Suns' Kevin Durant Discusses Boos from Thunder Fans: 'This Is Their Experience'
March 30, 2024
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant understands the response he got from Oklahoma City Thunder fans throughout Friday's game at Paycom Center.
Speaking to reporters after the Suns' 128-103 loss, Durant said "this is their experience" when asked about the boos that rained down on him from the Thunder faithful.
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin"It's hard to not hear how people react to when your name is called. I understand the dynamics. What being a fan means and what I meant to this city."<br><br>Kevin Durant on OKC fans booing.<br><br>"This is their experience. Before I guess I tried to tell them how to act towards me." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suns</a> <a href="https://t.co/ldOhQbZNCl">https://t.co/ldOhQbZNCl</a> <a href="https://t.co/a9qXkdNGyj">pic.twitter.com/a9qXkdNGyj</a>
The boos started when Durant's name was called during pregame introductions.
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankinThe boos continue for Kevin Durant in OKC. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Suns?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Suns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThunderUp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ThunderUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/yjzsdyWG60">pic.twitter.com/yjzsdyWG60</a>
Friday was Durant's first game in Oklahoma City since Nov. 14, 2021, when he was still a member of the Brooklyn Nets.
Despite scoring an efficient 26 points on 10-of-17 shooting, Durant couldn't help the Suns hang with the Thunder. The 25-point loss was their second-largest margin of defeat after a 138-111 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 8.
The jeers from Oklahoma City fans are nothing new for Durant. He has experienced them on a regular basis since leaving the Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent in July 2016.
When Durant made his first appearance back at Oklahoma City as a visiting player in February 2017, he was greeted by cupcake costumes and loudly booed whenever he touched the ball.
Going by that perspective, Thunder fans have calmed down quite a bit over the past seven years. But the bitter feelings will almost certainly never go away after Durant left a team that was close to playing for a championship, but had the bad luck of being around at a time when the Warriors were rolling through virtually everyone.
It took some time for Oklahoma City to get its swagger back after Durant left, but the franchise's short- and long-term outlook couldn't be better.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate at 25 years old. Chet Holmgren's season has been overshadowed by Victor Wembanyama, but he's having one of the best rookie campaigns in NBA history.
The Thunder are tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the Western Conference. They are closing in on their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.
Durant, on the other hand, is trying to keep his team out of the play-in tournament. The Suns currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, 1.5 games behind the Dallas Mavericks at No. 6.
