The inevitable is happening. He's coming back, returning to the land where he was once heralded as a hero, a key element in the rise of the city he was once the face of, the "shy and quiet" giver of the community, a one-of-kind superstar, an inductee in the Hall of Fame of the very state he left. Kevin Durant is making his return to Oklahoma City. He returns as the enemy, a Warrior of Golden State, a tarnished traitor invading his old territory, and he won't be welcomed.
Saturday is the day all NBA fans have been waiting for. You better believe the OKC crowd is going to be rowdy, roaring like hell at the man who was there since the beginning, the inception of the franchise. Thunder fans always cheered the loudest for him when the starting lineups were introduced. This time he'll be introduced in the starting lineups donning a different, uglier uniform and Thunder fans will be jeering at him.
Russell Westbrook, the superstar triple-double artist of the Thunder will not be opening his arms in welcome either, for Kevin Durant left him. Durant joined the very team him and Westbrook almost defeated, whether they ever really got along while they were teammates no one knows, but now they really aren't getting along having not spoken since Durant departed (the All-Star game will be so awkward). While they have played each other twice already this season in Oakland, sealing the reality that these two are no longer teammates and giving NBA fans closure that yes, Kevin Durant really did join the Warriors, this game is the most anticipated.
A once beloved hero of Oklahoma City, he returns to his old home a new enemy, a different man and even a different player for his defense has improved significantly since joining Steph Curry and the Warriors. His time in Oklahoma City was great there's no doubt, and Kevin Durant is still a hard guy to hate, but all respect is lost when you join the best team in the league for an easy ring, the team you almost and probably could have beaten had you stayed with Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Oklahoma City must not have meant enough to him. Therefore Thunder fans will boo and jeer the announcement of Kevin Durant, starting small forward for the Golden State Warriors.
He'll probably have a good game because he is one the best and the Warriors will probably win because they are the best team in the league. However, Russell Westbrook will play his hardest, as he always does, to beat his old teammate and the hated Warriors. Oklahoma City is still Westbrook's home and he should give Durant a lesson on loyalty. Westbrook doesn't need Durant, he's proved that with his historical season, a triple-double machine, the court is his canvas, controlling the game with each movement, creating points with every brushstroke, playing with heart, and making it look so easy and wonderful. Durant left that and now he has to face it in Westbook's territory. Westbrook's not going to let him step all over his canvas and neither is the Oklahoma City crowd. Welcome back Kevin Durant. But not really.
