Boos and chants swarmed Kevin Durant during his first game back in Oklahoma City last night, and the atmosphere ended up being a bigger story than the game itself. The Warriors won comfortably over the Thunder team Durant left, and the 16-point triumph was overshadowed by angry fans in and around the arena.
One of the closest and most well-known members of Durant's inner circle felt the harsh glare of the microscope Saturday night. Wanda Durant, the mother who was immortalized by KD with the words "You the real MVP," spoke with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne about what she felt was unfair treatment of her son last night:
The most vicious things you could say, they said about my son tonight. It's hurtful. We poured our heart into this place. Not just him. Our family. This is basketball. This is not whether or not you're going to make it into heaven.
Durant's mother isn't the only one who was upset about the treatment he faced in the arena last night. Draymond Green spoke up after the game last night, and the mercurial forward took a moment to remind fans "slave days are over" after he felt they crossed the line with their criticism.
Hearing a mother's side of the story is a bit heartbreaking. Describing her emotions regarding how Durant has been treated, Wanda told ESPN what her personal experience has been like this every time she's back in the area:
This is not the first time I've been back since Kevin left. This is maybe my fourth or fifth time. Every time that I've been back, people seem like they are afraid to say something nice to me. People will whisper, 'There's his mom. Ooooooh!'
It's easy to forget other people get caught in the stories athletes are part of, and family members have to listen to their loved ones get torn apart if they make the "wrong decision" or don't come through in the clutch. That passion allows athletes to be as well-paid as they are, but some perspective is needed. Someone's wealth and stature is not an excuse to tear them down as human beings, and the sting felt by someone like Wanda Durant is as good a reminder of that as any.
But if the volume of boos and chants were any indication last night, don't expect the hate-fest in OKC to let up anytime soon.
