It's hardly groundbreaking to submit that Russell Westbrook will receive a far different welcome in his initial return to Chesapeake Energy Arena as an opponent of the Oklahoma City Thunder than Kevin Durant did three years ago. Not only was Westbrook traded by the Thunder whereas Durant left in free agency, but the former's departure was also one that both player and team agreed would be best for both parties. Westbrook, basically, will forever remain a hero in Oklahoma City, while Durant will forever be a pariah.
Oklahoma City mayor David Holt recently touched on those disparate realities, admitting that Thunder fans “knew what to do” in response to Durant's decision to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
“We’ve never had someone this symbolic of our team and our city that we have sort of parted ways with mutually and then had to experience what it’s like to see them in a different uniform,” he told Brett Dawson of The Athletic. “With KD, it was obviously so bitter. We knew what to do. There was no question about how to act — we were gonna be angry. This is different. I think it would take a lot for Russell to break our hearts.”
Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets earlier this month in exchange for Chris Paul, two future first-round picks, and two future pick swaps. His mutual breakup with the Thunder came in wake of the team honoring Paul George's request to be dealt to the LA Clippers, ridding Oklahoma City of its long-shot championship hopes even before Westbrook was traded.
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