Jun 24, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, holds up a heart shape with his hands for fans during the Oklahoma City Thunder Champions parade. Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

'It’s Going to be Smoke in the City' – Former Oklahoma City Thunder Player Drops Kevin Durant Warning Ahead of Opening Night

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Aug 13, 2025 9:47 AM ET

Intentional or not, Kevin Durant will be around when the Oklahoma City Thunder raise their championship banner from last season, as his Houston Rockets will visit town on opening night.

Former Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins recently advised Durant, his former teammate, to “go to the back” during the team’s championship ceremony and use it as motivation to beat them in the first game.

“The great KD has to walk into that building and watch not only the franchise he left raise their first banner, but also watch the best franchise player ever (SGA) get his ring,” Perkins said on NBA Today.

Dec 31, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) points to his teammate after he makes a three pointer during the second quarter of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

“It’s going to be smoke in the city. If I’m KD, I’m going in the back. I don’t want to watch it. If I’m KD, I come with the mindset that I want to upset them and spoil their big ring ceremony night,” he added.

Los Angeles Lakers icon questions Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder legacy

Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Robert Horry recently quipped that Kevin Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder legacy is “getting pushed aside” by the likes of Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso.

Feb 25, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) drives to the basket as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

“It’s almost like, ‘See, if you’d have stayed here, you could have been the first to put up a banner, but you wanted to go on to greener pastures,” Horry said about Durant on the Big Shot Bob podcast.

“It’s always something special when you get the first for a franchise that has never won anything. Because now, you got to think about it, you the first…Even though they probably loved Durant, he’s getting pushed aside by Caruso, SGA, and Hartenstein,” he added.