During the weeks leading up to their 2025-26 season opener against the Houston Rockets, all anyone could talk about was how superstar Kevin Durant would be in the building for when the OKC Thunder officially received their championship rings and for their banner ceremony.
Since his exit from the franchise, every return back to Paycom Center was viewed as must-see TV but, clearly, this time was different.
To his credit, the former Oklahoma City cornerstone-turned-Benedict Arnold made it a point to say that he hoped not to take attention away from the reigning champs' celebrations, telling Kay Adams in a recent sit-down, "Them getting their rings is the most important thing."
Perhaps in an attempt to take attention away from himself, Durant was noticeably absent during the ceremony. Unfortunately for him, in an ironic turn of events, this decision to stay in the locker room only seems to have generated more attention in his direction.
Kevin Durant's absence from Thunder ring ceremony put on blast
Oklahoma Sports' Joe Mussatto captured a picture of two current Rockets and beloved former Thunder players, Steven Adams and Jeff Green, coming out to their respective benches early to watch Oklahoma City receive their rings.
Quickly, fans flocked to the comment sections on X to subtly throw shade at Durant's absence from the picture, with one user writing, "Nice of the only thunder legends on that team to support."
Once he made his way out to the floor for pre-game lineup introductions, the shower of boos proceeded to follow. In response, Durant was seen grinning and even booing right back.
Durant spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Thunder organization, earning seven All-Star nods, four scoring championships, and a league MVP, while guiding them to their first NBA Finals berth of the Sooner State era.
Since his infamous departure for the Golden State Warriors back during the 2016 offseason, he's shared differing takes and views of the Oklahoma City organization, though, in recent years, he has softened up on his stance.
Most recently, he's gone on record stating that "I’m happy I had that time there," referring to his tenure that spanned from 2007 to 2016.
No matter what his intentions were when deciding not to join both Adams and Green (who were teammates of his back with the Thunder and, now, in Houston), his absence from the festivities was painfully obvious and seen by fans and pundits alike.