Kevin Durant: Warriors star announces return to Oklahoma City Thunder
KEVIN DURANT has announced he plans to return to Oklahoma City later in the year for a ceremony to retire the NBA jersey of Thunder player Nick Collison.
Durant played for the Thunder for eight years before making his move west to join Golden State, where he has won consecutive NBA titles.
His move to the Warriors created animosity from some Thunder fans but Durant claims he still has a lot of respect for the city, fans and the organisation.
"That group was so special, that whole group from 2010 until I left there, it was special," Durant told ESPN.
"It's about time for us to let go of all that extra stuff, and just come together.
It's about time for us to let go of all that extra stuff, and just come together. Especially around this time, because it's Nick
“Especially around this time, because it's Nick."
Durant will travel from the Warriors game on March 19 in Minneapolis to Oklahoma City for the March 20 occasion, he said.
The Warriors are home against the Indiana Pacers on March 21.
Oklahoma City have been made aware of Durant's plans to attend the ceremony and are happy to accommodate the back-to-back NBA Finals MVP.
Durant insists Collison's leadership helped him during his early days in the NBA.
The 30-year-old, who was the number two pick in the 2008 draft, played with Collison when the team was based in Seattle and also for another eight years after they relocated to Oklahoma City.
Due to Collison's 15-year career, the Thunder are expecting many ex-teammates to be in Oklahoma City for the event.
Durant has an option to test the free agency market at the end of this season and he is expected to take it.
Kyrie Irving is 'one of those special players' says Kevin Durant
However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski claims this trip to Oklahoma has nothing to do with any future move.
“There's no interest on either side for a reconciliation,” Wojnarowski reports.
“Both Durant and the Thunder have moved on.
“For Durant and the Thunder, it appears to be a one-time return engagement that centers around something they both agree on: an appreciation of Collison's career with the franchise.”