Thunder set for Oct. 21 ring ceremony as Kevin Durant opens Rockets career in Oklahoma City
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The Oklahoma City Thunder will raise their first championship banner and hand out rings during the NBA’s season opener on October 21, a game that will also mark Kevin Durant’s debut with the Houston Rockets, according to multiple reports.
Durant’s return adds emotional weight to the night. The 14-time All-Star was the franchise’s cornerstone after the 2008 relocation from Seattle, guided the club to the 2012 NBA Finals, then departed for Golden State in 2016, a move that has routinely drawn boos in subsequent visits to Oklahoma City.
Sports Illustrated’s Rylan Stiles urged Thunder supporters to set aside any lingering resentment, at least for one evening, and focus on celebrating MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a roster that delivered the city’s first title while posting a league-best 68 victories.
Roster continuity fuels optimism
Fourteen players from the championship squad are expected back. The lone change is first-round pick Thomas Sorber, who replaces Dillon Jones on the 15-man list. Stiles noted that further growth from the club’s young core, plus the anticipated debut of 2024 lottery pick Nikola Topic—who missed last season with an injury—could make Oklahoma City even stronger. With several contenders projected to regress, the Thunder may face a smoother regular-season path.
Big financial call on Hartenstein
The team’s major offseason decision in 2026 centers on a $28.5 million option for center Isaiah Hartenstein. In a mailbag column, Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman wrote that retaining Hartenstein at that figure could force Oklahoma City to decline options on Luguentz Dort ($17.7 million) and Kenrich Williams ($7.2 million). Given the cost, Martinez views Hartenstein as the most likely of the three to be let go.
Sorber’s status remains day-to-day
Martinez added that the organization can afford to be cautious with Sorber, 19, who underwent surgery for turf toe in February. The center missed Summer League but managed individual workouts during team sessions. No timetable for full clearance has been announced, and Sorber said after the draft that he is progressing “day-by-day.”
The Thunder begin their title defense October 21 against Houston, with Durant back on the Paycom Center floor for the first time since joining his fourth NBA franchise.
Source: HoopsRumors
