This summer, Oklahoma City lost one of our own, Kevin Durant. KD was a star who built his career and brand with the Thunder. He had grown with us, and we had supported him unconditionally. He was hungry to win a title, and so were we. He was involved in the community, impressing us with his generosity and humble attitude. In essence, he was the person who represented the state, who brought the national spotlight to the humble prairies of Oklahoma. He was the one destined to stay.

Or so we thought.

Russell Westbrook was always the lightning rod. Criticism always seemed to find him, whether it was for his style of play, his late-game decision making, his interesting fashion choices, or his seemingly apparent desire for a bigger market and a bigger stage. He seemed to care just as much about Oklahoma as Durant did, but the rumors kept appearing on the Internet that he wanted something bigger. Russ was the one destined to leave, destined to try his style, his game, and his attitude in the biggest markets.

Or so we thought.

Isn’t it funny how humanity surprises us?

When Durant announced that he was signing with the Golden State Warriors, he left behind a heartbroken state. Fans were stunned, with the usual jersey burnings, twitter roasts, and criticism from across the spectrum following. How could Durant leave for the team that had just beaten Oklahoma City in the conference finals? How could Durant suddenly jump ship, instead of staying the course and winning a title for the state that had loved him so much?

But then the details started to emerge.

Details that painted Durant very differently than the person that Oklahomans thought they had. Details that showed him as impulsive. Details that showed how Warriors players and executives slowly became friendly with Durant and his inner circle. Details that showed the KD that wanted to leave, but was concerned about the PR hit he would take. Details that revealed a different side of the person, a side Oklahomans always liked to hope didn’t exist.

Once that blow was dealt, most fans, myself included, assumed a Westbrook exit was coming. Honestly, I wanted Sam Presti to trade Russ, to ensure that we wouldn’t lose two of the best players in the NBA for nothing. But then the impossible happened. Westbrook agreed to a contract extension, forgoing millions of dollars and the chance for a bigger market in the process. It seemed impossible.

But then the details started to emerge.

I was stunned. Russ was usually closed off from the media, and unwilling to divulge much about himself or his thoughts. But after he signed his extension, I learned so much about the man behind the player. Westbrook reportedly considers his teammates to be his closest friends, and doesn’t like to associate much with players from other teams. His inner circle is his family and has never changed. In short, he’s a very different teammate and a very different player than we thought him to be. And I love him that much more for it.

So what can we learn about ourselves from these decisions?

First, we learned that people surprise you. They are unpredictable and uncontrollable. Oklahomans learned that lesson from Durant. We never thought that he would actually leave. But we also learned it from Westbrook. People can surprise you, but it isn’t always a bad thing. Learn to enjoy the unexpected pleasures that come into your life from those around you, and be intentional about doing the same for others.

Second, we learned that you can’t put a price on loyalty. Oklahomans value loyalty, more so than many other people. We take care of our own, because nobody else cares about us. Stabbing your family, your neighbor, or your community in the back is an unforgivable sin to us. This value of community and loyalty is what led to the extreme backlash against Durant. But it is also what led to such high praise for Westbrook. He stayed when he could have easily left. He stayed when he had every right to move away. He accepted the challenge, and chose to cast his lot with the state of Oklahoma. For this move, the state loves him even more than we already did.

Finally, we can’t back down from the challenge. Durant’s decision was a direct challenge to the state of Oklahoma. Can we win a title? Westbrook’s answer was yes. But what is yours? What happens when you get confronted with a challenge in your everyday life? Do you hide from it, running to your precious safe space? Do you back down from it, accepting that you can’t do better? Or do you respond to the adversity with determination? It’s a choice we all have to make at some point in our lives and our response reveals much about our true character.

I believe in my family, my community, and my state. We’ve faced worse, much worse. We will overcome the haters, the naysayers, and the doubters. We will defy those who say we can't do it. We will suffer through the tough times and become stronger because of them.

“Something called 'the Oklahoma Standard' became known throughout the world. It means resilience in the face of adversity. It means a strength and compassion that will not be defeated.” —Brad Henry