The expectation was boos, and Thunder fans delivered, as Kevin Durant was showered with them as he was introduced in his return to the city where he spent eight years.

The Thunder didn't play a tribute video for Durant. Instead, they went with their standard move of saying, "Please welcome back to Oklahoma City Kevin Durant" as he was announced. The boos drowned out the PA announcer.

After the Thunder scored on their opening possession, Durant brought the ball up for the first Warriors possession, and again he heard a chorus of boos. On that possession, Durant splashed a jumper with his first shot. The crowd booed.

Durant heard the boos every touch after. Following his first miss, the crowd erupted in cheers.

As loud as the pregame boos were for Durant, the cheers for Russell Westbrook in introductions were louder. As the pregame invocation wrapped up, one fan screamed, "God bless Russell!"

Asked his thoughts on Durant's reception during a second-quarter break, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told ESPN: "It's sports. I'm all for booing the player, but cheer the man."

About 90 minutes before tipoff, Durant acknowledged that he didn't expect a warm reception.

"You plan for the worst,'' he said. "Obviously, I know how it is. I know fans are loud, especially here. Just try not to think about it, and go out there and play. Once the ball is tipped up, just go out there and play the game.''

Durant was met by a large media contingent ahead of the showdown at Chesapeake Energy Arena, which marked his first game there since he left the Thunder for the Warriors via free agency last summer.

Asked if he would have changed anything about his departure, Durant said, "No." He did say it felt strange to go to the visitor's locker room.

"There's definitely emotion,'' he said. "I played here for eight years. There's no getting around that.''

After speaking to the media, Durant headed to the court for pregame warm-ups. He was met with boos from the Thunder fans but had his headphones on while shooting.

Earlier Saturday, Westbrook talked as extensively as he has in months about his severed relationship with his former teammate.

"Obviously, us playing here, we grew up here together," Westbrook said. "Since then, his decision has been made about what's best for him and his future, and I made the decision that was best for mine, and that's just how it's been."

Source:
courtesy of ESPN

by Royce Young

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