Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams has expressed his confusion over the treatment of Kevin Durant by Oklahoma City Thunder fans. The Suns secured their fifth consecutive victory with a 128-118 win over the Thunder on Sunday, with Durant leading the way with 35 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks on 61.9% shooting.
It was a homecoming for Durant, who played eight seasons for the Thunder before leaving the franchise on bad terms in 2016 to form a super team in Golden State. Seven years on, he is still being booed by Thunder fans.
Loud boos for KD in OKC pic.twitter.com/fUPOucc2N8
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 2, 2023
Williams believes that Durant’s contributions to the Thunder during his time with the franchise should be appreciated, rather than criticized. “I’m still surprised at how many people, why they boo him here. I don’t understand that,” Williams said following Sunday’s game.
“This fanbase is one that I have respected for a long time. I get it, you lose a guy like Kevin, but I think, at some point, you have to appreciate what he meant to this organization. … He loves this city. He knows what Sam (Presti) and this organization meant to him. I hope someday that they can appreciate him,” he added.
Durant played a key role in the Thunder’s success during his time with the franchise, leading them to the NBA Finals in 2012, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games. He also won his lone regular-season MVP with the Thunder in 2014, among countless other accolades. However, the Thunder have failed to win a single playoff series since Durant’s departure in 2016, which could be a factor in why some fans are still not ready to forgive him.
Despite this, Williams feels that Durant’s decision to leave the Thunder should not result in such harsh treatment from the fans. “He just made a decision,” Williams said. “It’s a free country. He can decide to play wherever he wants to play. I think he has done well with his career. He’s done well by himself, and he’s done well by his family. So, I don’t know why people would boo him here. It doesn’t make sense to me.”
In conclusion, Monty Williams has expressed his confusion over the continued booing of Kevin Durant by Thunder fans. He believes that Durant’s contributions to the franchise during his time with the Thunder should be appreciated and that his decision to leave the team should not result in such harsh treatment. While some fans may still be bitter about Durant’s departure, Williams hopes that they will eventually come to appreciate what he meant to the franchise.
Kevin Durant leads Suns to victory over Thunder with impressive performance
On April 3, 2023, the Phoenix Suns faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling game that ended with a final score of 128-118 in favor of the Suns. Led by Kevin Durant’s impressive performance, the Suns managed to secure the victory over the Thunder.
Durant was undoubtedly the best player on the court, scoring 35 points with an outstanding 61.9% field goal percentage. Devin Booker also had a great game, contributing 22 points and 10 assists to help the Suns seal the win.
On the other side of the court, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the standout player for the Thunder, scoring an impressive 39 points with a 50.0% field goal percentage. Rookie Joshua Giddey also had a noteworthy performance, scoring 16 points despite a 31.25% field goal percentage.
With this victory, the Suns maintain their fourth-place standing in the Western Conference with a record of 43-35, while the Thunder sits in tenth place with a record of 38-41. The game was a testament to the skill and determination of both teams and left fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
