The Oklahoma City Thunder already knew Kevin Durant was leaving before his announcement and now attention shifts to Russell Westbrook. (Photo : Getty Images/J Pat Carter)
Since his July announcement, this game is the most awaited for the entire season: Kevin Durant will now return to Oklahoma City for the first time as a Golden State Warrior.
There were questions on how the Thunder fans would treat the player that brought them to relevance. Will they remember all the good memories and achievements that Durant has brought? KD was not only a basketball player who played in Oklahoma. He was an outstanding citizen and had given huge amounts of time and money to the community.
In NBA.com's Blogtable, there were contrasting opinions. Shaun Powell had a positive take.
"The good and friendly people of OKC will applaud Durant and rightly so; he gave them plenty to cheer about for several years and helped put the town on the basketball map. And that's not to mention his good deeds off the court and in the community, either."
However, Fran Blinebury calls it the other way: "I believe the sense of betrayal from the OKC fans will be palpable. Downright nasty in some corners. Toughest game of the year for Golden State. Yes, that includes the Cavs."
This is not an ordinary game by any standards. The Warriors have beaten the Thunder twice already in convincing fashion so they are angry for revenge. There was an incident in the last game between Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook and Warriors' center Zaza Pachulia, but the latter is injured and will not make the trip.
Draymond Green had some remarks about that on ESPN: "I just wish Zaza [Pachulia] was playing," Green said, and he then echoed Westbrook's statement: "'I'm going to get him back. '"
"That's what I want to see," Green continued. "I wish Zaza was here."
But nothing compares to the drama of a city scorned, and bared that Kevin Durant has made special security arrangements for the occasion.
"A heightened armed security team has been procured, tripling the normal amount of security personnel the Warriors typically travel with, league sources told ESPN.
During what is expected to be an emotionally charged, contentious scene at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Kleiman -- who orchestrated Durant's free-agent meetings in The Hamptons last offseason -- will sit next to Durant's mother, Wanda, sources said," the report stated.
The game starts at 8:30 AM, EST.
