The Oklahoma City Thunder kicked off the 2025-26 NBA campaign with a thrilling double overtime victory over their old friend, Kevin Durant, and his new squad, the Houston Rockets. It’s safe to say the new season started with a bang, and along the way, Indiana Pacers legend Reggie Miller issued a controversial take on Durant’s standing with the Thunder that caught quite a bit of attention.
Durant spent the first nine seasons of his career with Oklahoma City, and while he turned himself into a superstar, while also putting the franchise on the map, he was unable to lead the team to a championship victory. Despite that, Miller believes that the Thunder should honor Durant and several of his former OKC teammates with an eye-opening move.
Reggie Miller Believes Thunder Should Retire Kevin Durant’s Jersey
Durant was selected with the No. 2 overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics (which eventually became the Oklahoma City Thunder) in the 2007 NBA Draft. Right from the get-go, Durant established himself as one of the premier scoring threats in the league, and nearly 20 years later, he has shown no signs of slowing down.
During their early days, the Thunder amassed several players who eventually ended up becoming superstars in their own right. For a point in time, Durant shared the court alongside both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, with another defensive star, Serge Ibaka, also factoring into the mix alongside these guys.
OKC wasn’t able to keep everyone together long enough to win a title, but in Miller’s eyes, each of these players helped make the Thunder relevant after their move from Seattle. With that in mind, Miller believes that not only should Durant have his jersey retired by his former team, but he also wants to see Westbrook, Harden, and Ibaka all have their jerseys retired by Oklahoma City as well.
“Russell Westbrook should be retired here. Kevin Durant — I know it’s very unpopular — should be retired here,” Miller said on NBC’s broadcast of the Thunder-Rockets matchup. “I think Serge Ibaka should be retired here. James Harden, I think, should be retired here.”
Should the Thunder Retire Kevin Durant’s Jersey?
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 08: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts against the Utah Jazz during the first half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on October 08, 2025 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Of this group, Durant and Westbrook are probably the two with the most realistic shot of getting their jersey retired. Harden only spent three seasons with the Thunder before forcing his way to the Houston Rockets, and while Ibaka was a solid player, he wasn’t on the same level as Durant and Westbrook. The past couple of years have been rocky for Westbrook, but he was one of the most well-rounded players in the league during his prime with the Thunder.
Ultimately, the team will probably wait until both of these guys retire before deciding whether or not they will retire their jerseys. It may be a controversial take from Miller, but considering how much time Durant spent with Oklahoma City, it certainly could happen. For the time being, though, the team will turn its attention to its upcoming matchup with Miller’s former team, the Pacers, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night.
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