Kevin Durant knew what was coming when he stepped back onto the hardwood in Oklahoma City. He didn’t flinch. He fired right back.
The Houston Rockets forward kicked off his 18th NBA season Tuesday night in enemy territory, facing the franchise where he made his name. But any warmth Thunder fans once felt for their former MVP was long gone. As the team celebrated its championship win from last season—complete with ring ceremony and banner drop—Durant stood on the sidelines, watching it all unfold, and returned the crowd’s chorus of boos with his own. Literally.
Video clips of the moment spread fast. “Steven Adams: massive cheers Kevin Durant: massive boos Welcome back to OKC!” read one. Another commented, “KD is a menace.” “Durant booing OKC back is pure theater,” read one viewer’s.
Steven Adams: massive cheers
Kevin Durant: massive boos
Welcome back to OKC! pic.twitter.com/Cn3jTIaLtk
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) October 21, 2025
It was.
And Durant knows exactly what he’s doing.
OKC Will Never Forgive Durant
Durant entered the league with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007, playing just one season before the team relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder. From 2008 to 2016, Durant was the face of the franchise—averaging 27.4 points, 7 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists per game. He earned MVP honors in 2014 and was in the mix every year.
But when he left for the Golden State Warriors in 2016 on July 4, fans felt betrayed. The move turned him into an NBA villain, and that label stuck. Every time he’s returned to Oklahoma City, he’s been greeted with boos, burned jerseys, and cupcake signs.
None of it seems to bother him.
Embracing the Role of Villain
Durant has since played for the Warriors, Nets, Suns, and now Rockets. Each stop added fuel to his complicated legacy—an elite scorer with two titles and Finals MVPs, but always shadowed by the backlash from his first exit.
Tuesday night wasn’t about stats. It was about drama. And in true Durant fashion, he didn’t duck from it.
Thunder fans were still buzzing from the Finals win, but when KD was introduced in the Rockets’ starting five, they let him have it. The arena erupted in jeers. Durant smiled, looked at the crowd, and mimicked them, hands around his mouth like a high school rival yelling back from across the court.
It’s not just performance—it’s who Durant has become. After years of criticism, he’s no longer asking for approval. He’s flipping the script. If you’re going to boo him, you better believe he’s giving it back.
Kevin Durant booing the OKC crowd—
KD is a menace. 🤣🤣🤣
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 21, 2025
Next Up: Brooklyn
This won’t be the last grudge game for Durant this season. On Monday, he’ll host the Brooklyn Nets—his former team—for the Rockets’ home opener. Another fan base, another round of noise.
At 36, Durant is still playing at a high level. And with young talent around him in Houston, he’s got something to prove again. Not to fans. To himself.
So if you’re expecting KD to shrink under the spotlight or turn down the volume, think again. He’s got plenty of boos left in the tank.
