Rockets news: Kevin Durant to Thunder fans

Nearly a decade after his controversial departure from Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant was once again in the spotlight inside the Paicom Center on Tuesday night. Make your own Houston Rockets debuting in the 2025-26 season opener, the 37-year-old superstar received loud boos from Thunder fans who have yet to forgive him for departure in 2016.

Durant, never one to shy away from criticism, gave a fiery response that quickly went viral. As fans jeered him during pregame warmups, Rockets forward facing the stands and yelled, “Sorry, too, f—ing,” prompting laughter from nearby players and even some fans. a moment, caught on camerait perfectly captured the complicated relationship between Durant and the city where his career began.

“Boo and you mothaf*cker.”

Kevin Durant on what he actually said to the crowd before Rockets-Thunder last night 😳

(via @HoldenKrusemark)
pic.twitter.com/hkcATJS0r8 https://t.co/TDsbizPtG8

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 22, 2025

Despite Oklahoma City celebrating its 2025 championship banner that night, much of the crowd’s energy was focused on its former hero. Durant, who earned seven All-Star selections in eight seasons with the Thunder, seemed unfazed by the animosity. Smiling during the introduction, he accepted the boo as part of his heritage.

“It’s all love,” Durant told reporters after the game. “They earned their cheers and I earned my boos. That’s basketball.”

Kevin Durant did not disappoint in his Rockets debut

The game itself lived up to the hype. Durant had 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists in his Rockets debut, though Houston fell 125-124 in a double-overtime thriller. The loss did little to overshadow Durant’s confident return or the buzz surrounding his new chapter in Houston.

After stints with Golden State, Brooklyn and Phoenix, Durant seems at peace with his past and ready to lead a young Rockets team into contention. His Oklahoma City comeback was more than a viral sound bite. It was the symbol of an athlete who had learned to turn criticism into fuel.

For Thunder fans, the booing may never go away. For Durant, they simply became the soundtrack to a career defined by both greatness and defiance.