After knocking off the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Brooklyn Nets are now 10-4 and tied for first place in the East standings with the Washington Wizards. The game may have had a little something extra for Kevin Durant and James Harden since they both began their careers with the Thunder.
Technically, KD was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics, though it was in Oklahoma City where most of his early-career memories were formed. After the game, both superstars were given the chance to reflect.
Durant etched his seventh game with 30 points or more by finishing with 33 total to go with eight boards and four assists. It only took the regular season scoring leader 17 field goals to get there since he was a stellar 13 of 14 from the line. Those are both season highs in free throws made and attempted for the two-time Finals MVP.
KD won his 2014 regular season MVP award in OKC. After the game, he was given the chance to reflect and was nostalgic on his Thunder days.
“Yeah you think about the foundation,” Durant shared. “And where you built yourself up as a pro and this is definitely the spot for me. Taught me all about what it means to be a pro, people here in the organization, really guided me as a young player. You know that set the foundation for what I am today. So a lot of great memories coming back, seeing a lot of people and it's good to see folks here and play in front of this crowd, it's been a minute so I had a good time.”
Kevin Durant allows himself to reflect on his OKC days after the win vs. Thunder.
"You think about your foundation, where you built yourself up as a pro and this was definitely the spot for me…." pic.twitter.com/p742iFOQG8— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 15, 2021
It was the first time that Kevin Durant and James Harden returned to OKC as teammates with the Nets. The duo spent three full seasons together there and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
“It's crazy how stuff happens,” remembered Durant. “I never thought when James got traded [from OKC] I didn't know what the future will hold and for us to come back around on the same team as we got older is pretty sweet. Coming here and receive the love that we got from the fans you just know we put in a lot of work here we helped build this thing so it's good to come in here and see what it is today.”
James Harden, who was traded away by the Thunder as they were then looking to save a few bucks in luxury taxes, was less introspective.
When offered the chance to reminisce, he wasn't really feeling it. Was it extra special for him to return? “No,” said The Beard. “I'm just trying to come in and win. For me it's been a long time so.”




Was Harden surprised there were a few boos from the Thunder faithful headed his way?
“I don't know, wasn't my fault so I don't know, I don't really care, honestly.”
James Harden was asked if he's surprised they still boo him in OKC.
"I don't know. It wasn't my fault. (laughs). So I don't know, I don't really care, honestly. pic.twitter.com/z3Dkk5tS4F— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 15, 2021
Harden had 16 points, six rebounds, 13 assists and three steals. He was just 1-of-8 from the line after breaking out with 39 points in the last win on Friday versus New Orleans.
It's not quite clear why Harden wouldn't be feeling very nostalgic. Does he associate better feelings with his days in Houston? That would make sense since he blossomed from a talented scorer into a perennial MVP candidate. Maybe he didn't feel as embraced by OK, or maybe he just wasn't in the mood to get sappy, who knows?
It's interesting the fans booed Harden who reportedly would have stayed in Oklahoma City had the Thunder offered him a max back in the day. Thunder fans can only look back and wonder what might have been. Some fans joked that all the Nets need to do is bring back Russell Westbrook to reform the whole 2012 Thunder group. But they actually have someone even better than Russ in Kyrie Irving… if only.
In the meantime, the Nets are back home with an electric showdown looming against another former team of Durant's in the league-leading (11-2) Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry will no doubt look to continue putting on a show at Barclays. After a six-game road trip where the Nets went 5-1, you can bet they'll be thrilled to get back to their own beds in Brooklyn.