OKLAHOMA CITY -- Much has changed for Kevin Durant and for the Oklahoma City Thunder, and all it took was one more summer and few words between brothers.
One look at the serenity on Durant’s face after Warriors shootaround Tuesday morning, as he discussed a possible first-round playoff series with the Thunder, and it was clear he no longer felt caught in the friction that charged conversation last season.
“It would be a fun, incredible matchup,” Durant said, warm to the subject. “They gave us some problems earlier this year. The last time we played them, we were the team we need to be against these guys. They’re physical. They play hard. They get in the passing lanes. You’ve got to take care of the basketball.”
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Then, hours before the teams would meet came evidence of the ice melting.
“So it would be a fun series, especially with playing in Oklahoma City again, being in that atmosphere in the playoffs,” Durant added. “It’s always fun.”
After the summer of 2016: Durant becomes a free agent and makes the difficult decision to leave Oklahoma City to join the Warriors. OKC is stung by the breakup. Thunder star Russell Westbrook, who teamed with Durant for form an electric duo, expresses his dismay in a variety of ways.
Coming off the summer of 2017: Durant wins his first NBA championship, Westbrook wins his first MVP award and the Thunder reloads, adding two stars in an earnest effort to mollify Westbrook while also patching the loss of Durant.
Golden State Warriors
The Thunder had moved on. Oklahoma City had moved on, though still feeling the loss of Durant, who had become a favorite son.
Moreover, Durant and Westbrook moved on. Though it was never as nasty as publicized in some circles, there was air in need of clearing. That occurred during the All-Star break in February in Los Angeles.
“I feel like I (expletive) that up,” Durant conceded. “I feel like I just made it a thing when I shouldn’t have been. So it’s cool to kind of get past that and appreciate these guys for who they are and what they do. And it’s all love at the end of the day.”
Though Westbrook and Durant may never be as close as they were when they were teammates, they have evolved beyond their sensationalized “feud.” Time has healed the worst of the rift.
“This year, it changed,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Last year, it felt strange every game. Like this is a weird vibe in here. Even in our place, there was this extra energy. And now that we’re a year removed from it, it seems like everybody is more settled, fans and players.
“I don’t want to say it’s just another game, because they’re a great team and we always look forward to playing them, and they look forward to playing us. But it’s more just about basketball.”