Kevin Durant trick or treat special mic drop on former OKC Thunder teammates

Kevin Durant’s special segment on ESPN First Take serves up some interesting tricks and treats for a few of his former OKC Thunder teammates.

Although former OKC Thunder star Kevin Durant won’t be dropping dimes or baskets this season it’s not stopping him from dropping hot takes. Fittingly, his guest appearance on ESPN’s First Take aired on Halloween, and KD served up the goods.

Since confirming he won’t return to play at all this season for his new team the Brooklyn Nets the enigmatic superstar has taken to spending time front and center with the media. First Take hosts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman probed the superstar on a variety of topics.

In fact, the interview was loaded with goodies. So much so that it felt as if we should’ve been extending our OKC Thunder themed orange pumpkin baskets asking the superstar ‘Trick or Treat’?

Several former OKC Thunder players are included in his hot takes while others are conspicuously absent.

For example, when asked who his current top five active players are the lanky forward deflected electing to answer with who he enjoys watching the most. The five players who made his cut were his current teammate and best friend Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Joel Embiid and former Thunder teammate James Harden.

This is the second time each of Irving and Harden made a Durant list of five as he named both on his all-time starting lineup with the presumption he was playing at forward. Draymond Green and former OKC Thunder teammate Serge Ibaka were listed as his big men. Of note, this was a question asked on the Knuckleheads podcast hosted by former NBA players Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles.

Some may have expected Nick Collison to make the list since Durant and Mr. Thunder have a very close relationship. Given the comments KD made about his former team, fans and franchise the fact he flew in  to attend Collison’s jersey ceremony speaks to this.

In fairness, however, he wasn’t asked who his ‘favorite” teammates were but who would comprise his all-time teammate lineup.

To no one’s surprise, Russell Westbrook didn’t make either list but does make a cameo appearance via one response Durant offered. When KD is asked why he isn’t more assertive, it was frenemy Russell Westbrook the forward uses for his analogy to explain why.

Thunder Nation or anyone who has spent any time witnessing Westbrook will probably laugh at Durant’s explanation for why he didn’t put Russ in his place. While he does say “he’s a player that you can’t put in his place” (you think?). But, he also suggests it was his choice to “support him and let these guys grow and be creative in their own space.”

More from Thunder News

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

This is definitely the “trick” part of the interview. Can anyone imagine KD trying to be assertive with the Brodie or as per the exact phrasing “put Russ in his place“?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

The other portions of the interview falling in the ‘trick’ portion are the specific omissions of players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and of course Westbrook.

To not mention any of them given the time spent with Russ and the rings won with the Warriors seems odd. Or perhaps more accurately a bit petty.

Then again, that’s why this is a Kevin Durant trick or treat special because in six month’s time he could return with an entirely different take.

Enjoy your Halloween everyone!