Last July, NBA star Kevin Durant departed the Oklahoma City Thunder for 2015 champions Golden State Warriors in a move that was viewed acrimoniously in some quarters.
The 28 year old small forward has an excellent pedigree in the NBA, having won the Most Valuable Player Award in 2014 and been an All Star on eight consecutive occasions. He spent eight seasons at Oklahoma before departing.
Last night, Durant returned to Oklahoma City with his Warriors team and emerged with a 130-114 victory.
Individually, Durant supplied 34 points and nine rebounds as he almost earned a double-double at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
I appreciate all the fans for voting me into the All Star game. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/taLbGCW0FZ
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 20, 2017
While that on court performance was positive, Durant's mother Wanda, who was in attendance at the game, raised the matter of the abuse directed towards her son from the stands.
She told ESPN's Ramona Shelbourne: "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."
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant is introduced to boos before an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Wanda Durant continued: "They called him a snake, a sellout, a b****. It's just a sad day. I understand that they loved him. I do understand it. But the name-calling. The people with the cupcakes on their backs... it didn't have to be like this."
