Rockets' Kevin Durant trolls Thunder fans in return to Oklahoma City

The crowd seemed to relish that the Thunder received their rings and raised a banner for last year's title with their former superstar in the arena. Although Durant immediately won two titles with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018, OKC's 2025 title was seen as vindication for the Thunder. That Durant went to the Rockets is another blow, since that's where the Thunder traded his teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Kevin Durant is known for clapping back at critics

Durant is infamous for responding to his critics on social media and speaking his mind. Back in 2019, he told The Wall Street Journal:

"Such a venomous, toxic feeling when I walked into (OKC's) arena. The organization, the trainers and equipment managers, those dudes is p-issed off at me? Ain't talking to me? Because I left a team and went to play with another team?"

That's why when a reporter asked Durant if he wanted to see anyone from his old organization, he dismissed the question with a curt, "No."

Steven Adams did some trolling of his own

Tuesday, Durant took his trolling offline and into the arena. Not to be outdone, another former Thunder player joined in — Rockets center Steven Adams. Adams was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans after seven years with OKC and remains beloved by Thunder fans. When introduced as starters, Adams got an ovation; Durant got jeers.

When Durant got booed upon going out to warm up, Adams jokingly joined the crowd in booing his own teammate from the Rockets bench.

Maybe it loosened KD up. He put up eight points in the first quarter despite the relentless defense from the Thunder, most of whom were still in high school or even middle school when Durant left the Thunder.

Starting off against the NBA's top defense is a challenge for Durant and the Rockets, who are still learning to play together. But Durant's playful antagonism with fans needed no learning curve at all this season.