Kevin Durant returns for Thunder's championship ceremony on Opening Night
Houston Rockets All-Star Kevin Durant, who played his first nine seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder organization before joining the Golden State Warriors, will be in attendance to watch the franchise raise its first championship banner. While Durant and the Rockets are projected to contend with the defending champion Thunder in 2025-26, they'll get first crack at the champions, but will have to endure a championship ring ceremony on Opening Night.
After the Thunder famously blew a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference Finals against the team Durant decided to join — the Warriors — in 2016, via free agency, no love's lost between him and Thunder fans. Those fans will welcome Durant with open arms at the Paycom Center on October 21, per ESPN's Shams Charania's X, formerly Twitter.
'Opening Night of the 2025-26 NBA season on NBC on Oct. 21, per sources,' Charania reported. 'Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder. Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers.'
Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and the Los Angeles Lakers will host Stephen Curry and the Warriors on the backend of Opening Night's doubleheader. Nine years removed from Durant's exit before winning back-to-back championships with the Warriors, All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and the Thunder will celebrate their 2025 NBA title in the building Durant helped build as the first pillar to the Thunder's previous run to the Finals in 2012.
Then, the Seattle Sonics, the Thunder drafted a 19-year-old Durant with the second overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. Kevin Durant will be making his debut with the Rockets.
Thunder will host Victor Wembanyama, Spurs on Christmas Day
For the first time in seven years, the Thunder will be playing on Christmas Day, the NBA's annual slate of showcasing its elite teams. The Thunder will host the Spurs at the Paycom Center, followed by the Lakers hosting the Rockets, the Warriors hosting the Mavericks, and the Timberwolves on the road to face the Nuggets to end the association's traditional five-game schedule, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
'NBA Christmas Day 2025 on ABC and ESPN, per sources,' Charania reported. 'Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks -San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder – Houston Rockets at LA Lakers – Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors – Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets.
The up-and-coming Spurs will be a team to keep an eye on in the Western Conference, led by All-Star center Victor Wembanyama, the 2025 Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, and this year's second overall pick, Dylan Harper.
Related: Lou Williams makes Kobe Bryant-Shai-Gilgeous Alexander comparison
Related: Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's powerful message to hometown after NBA Finals win
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Twins visit the Yankees to start 3-game series
Minnesota Twins (56-61, fourth in the AL Central) vs. New York Yankees (62-56, third in the AL East) New York; Monday, 7:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Yankees: Will Warren (6-5, 4.44 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 133 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Yankees -177, Twins +148; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees host the Minnesota Twins to open a three-game series. New York is 62-56 overall and 35-24 in home games. The Yankees have a 32-19 record in games when they hit at least two home runs. Minnesota is 56-61 overall and 24-36 in road games. The Twins have a 39-10 record in games when they scored at least five runs. The teams meet Monday for the first time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Cody Bellinger has 20 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs and 66 RBIs while hitting .272 for the Yankees. Trent Grisham is 8 for 34 with four home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Yankees: 3-7, .204 batting average, 5.05 ERA, outscored by 15 runs Twins: 5-5, .240 batting average, 4.59 ERA, outscored by three runs INJURIES: Yankees: Amed Rosario: 10-Day IL (joint), Austin Slater: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jonathan Loaisiga: 15-Day IL (back), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (forearm), Fernando Cruz: 15-Day IL (oblique), Ryan Yarbrough: 15-Day IL (oblique), Oswaldo Cabrera: 60-Day IL (ankle), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gerrit Cole: 60-Day IL (elbow) Twins: Christian Vazquez: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Simeon Woods Richardson: 15-Day IL (illness), Byron Buxton: 10-Day IL (side soreness), Anthony Misiewicz: 15-Day IL (shoulder), David Festa: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Angels host the Dodgers to start 3-game series
Los Angeles Dodgers (68-50, first in the NL West) vs. Los Angeles Angels (56-62, fourth in the AL West) Anaheim, California; Monday, 9:38 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (10-7, 2.36 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 139 strikeouts); Angels: Jose Soriano (7-9, 4.01 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 119 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Dodgers -179, Angels +149; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Angels start a three-game series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. Los Angeles has gone 30-30 in home games and 56-62 overall. The Angels have a 33-12 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Los Angeles has a 68-50 record overall and a 30-26 record on the road. The Dodgers are first in the NL with 175 total home runs, averaging 1.5 per game. The teams meet Monday for the fourth time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Taylor Ward leads the Angels with 27 home runs while slugging .485. Luis Rengifo is 13 for 35 with a double, a triple, three home runs and six RBIs over the past 10 games. Freddie Freeman has 29 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 66 RBIs for the Dodgers. Shohei Ohtani is 16 for 40 with three doubles and three home runs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Angels: 3-7, .218 batting average, 4.91 ERA, outscored by seven runs Dodgers: 5-5, .258 batting average, 2.45 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs INJURIES: Angels: Chris Taylor: 10-Day IL (hand), Jorge Soler: 10-Day IL (back), Robert Stephenson: 60-Day IL (biceps), Hunter Strickland: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ben Joyce: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (hip) Dodgers: Michael Conforto: day-to-day (knee), Tommy Edman: 10-Day IL (ankle), Kirby Yates: 15-Day IL (back), Hyeseong Kim: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Tanner Scott: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Kopech: 60-Day IL (knee), Kike Hernandez: 10-Day IL (elbow), Roki Sasaki: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tony Gonsolin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (forearm), Kyle Hurt: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael Grove: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 60-Day IL (shoulder), River Ryan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giants begin 3-game series against the Padres
San Diego Padres (66-52, second in the NL West) vs. San Francisco Giants (59-59, third in the NL West) San Francisco; Monday, 9:45 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Yu Darvish (1-3, 6.51 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 23 strikeouts); Giants: Logan Webb (10-8, 3.24 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 165 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Giants -141, Padres +120; over/under is 7 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants host the San Diego Padres on Monday to open a three-game series. San Francisco is 59-59 overall and 29-28 at home. The Giants have a 33-18 record in games when they did not give up a home run. San Diego is 66-52 overall and 28-32 in road games. The Padres have a 49-14 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Monday's game is the seventh time these teams meet this season. The Padres hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series. TOP PERFORMERS: Willy Adames has 18 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Giants. Rafael Devers is 9 for 35 with a double and three home runs over the last 10 games. Manny Machado has 29 doubles and 20 home runs for the Padres. Luis Arraez is 14 for 44 with three doubles over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 5-5, .243 batting average, 3.50 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs Padres: 7-3, .254 batting average, 3.91 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs INJURIES: Giants: Jerar Encarnacion: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Landen Roupp: 15-Day IL (elbow), Erik Miller: 15-Day IL (elbow), Tom Murphy: 60-Day IL (back) Padres: Jhony Brito: 60-Day IL (forearm), Joe Musgrove: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
