The departure of Kevin Durant hit the Oklahoma City Thunder and its fans like a train, but joining the Golden State Warriors was taking that train off the rails.
And while newly-elected OKC mayor David Holt knows how hard Durant's free agent decision hit his city, he noted how three little words could change it all once again.
“I am fully aware how Thunder fans have felt since July 4, 2016, because I feel it, too,” Holt said, according to Jon Hamm of Bleacher Report. “And I think we'll feel that way forever if the status quo is maintained.
“Yet all KD would have to say is ‘I choose you,' and virtually all fans would forgive him.”
Much like LeBron James repaired his relationship with the city of Cleveland, Durant can repair his with Oklahoma City by coming back, though it's likely that the Warriors will get to enjoy most of the prime of his career as it is.
The hope remains there though, and it's still tough in this NBA business to say “no” to a perennial scoring champion and a massive superstar that can become the reason a team wins games.
Former Oklahoma Sooner All-American lineman Gabe Ikard noted just how profound Durant's decision was, reverberating across the entire state.
“Durant's departure to the Golden State Warriors resulted in the biggest backlash to a player's free-agency decision in the history of sports,” Ikard said. “I'm not quite sure he expected that extreme of a reaction. I'm not sure Oklahomans thought that they would react so severely to his decision either.
“But,” he added, “no one thought it would be Golden State.”
“I find it hard to believe people that say they would not welcome him back. It's easy to call him a snake and cupcake now. But if he was dropping 40-plus in Thunder blue again, a lot of fans would find forgiveness quickly.”
Those who didn't burn Durant's jersey would be in for a real retro team at Chesapeake Energy Arena if OKC's prodigal son comes back at some point in his career.
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