The NBA's schedule-makers clearly wanted to start the 2025-26 season with all-out fireworks, as they've decided to have the OKC Thunder play host to Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets for October 21's opening night tip-off.
As is always the case since he initially spurned Oklahoma City back in the 2016 free agency period for the Golden State Warriors, a matchup between the future Hall of Famer and his former employers has always been considered must-see TV for fans and pundits alike.
Of course, what makes this go-around all the more attention-grabbing to viewers is the fact that it will come during the Thunder's banner-raising, ring-receiving ceremony, something that many have perceived as a "petty" move by the league.
However, while this has been the talk of the town across virtually all media platforms, in the days that have followed the opening night reveal, Durant himself has been quite vocal about his feelings on the matchup, downplaying its significance and sharing that, in his eyes, it'll be the fans, not any of the players involved, who "will eat this up."
Kevin Durant publicly unfazed by playing Thunder during ring night
Durant wouldn't stop there with his seemingly unfazed reaction to the recent schedule update, however, as he told people on X (formerly Twitter) that his mentality is that it's "bout time they win one lmaooo," referring to the Thunder and their 2025 championship.
As the years have passed since his departure, though the franchise's faithful followers may not have yet reached a point of forgiveness, Durant's tone toward the franchise has gradually softened.
So much so, in fact, that it took within an hour of the Thunder winning their first title this past June for him to publicly wish them congratulations.
While the former MVP may still have his name fully enshrined within the club's record books and Sooner State legacy, encroaching on 10 full seasons since he last suited up in the blue, orange, and yellow threads, at this point the Durant era should merely be seen as a distant memory.
The current face of the Thunder franchise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, seemed to have described the links to the former core of KD, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden perfectly during this past campaign, where he noted "there's no correlation at all" between the two squads and that, at the end of the day, their primary focus is "to give these fans what they deserve."
Despite the obvious history between the two and easy revenge storylines that could be focused on, perhaps the best and most respectful thing that could be done for all parties involved on opening night is to honor this present iteration of OKC basketball that achieved ultimate glory rather than continue to ruminate on past iterations that failed.