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Thunder fans recreate Kevin Durant MVP acceptance speech (video)

By Luke Dahlgren

May 6, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant speaks after receiving the 2013-2014 MVP trophy at Thunder Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant speaks after receiving the 2013-2014 MVP trophy at Thunder Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /
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The video shows Oklahoma City Thunder fans reciting passages from Kevin Durant’s 2014 MVP speech. 

At this time last year, Kevin Durant was putting the icing on an MVP season that saw him set career highs in points and assists.

Now, Durant sits injured on the bench while the Oklahoma City Thunder struggle for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.

Thunder fans want to return to the happy memories, so in commemoration of Durant’s MVP anniversary, Train Media Group of Oklahoma created a tribute with selections of his acceptance speech.

More from Kevin Durant

It can be easy to forget the impact Kevin Durant has left on Oklahoma City. With the Thunder struggling for a playoff spot in the Western Conference while Durant sits on the bench in a suit, Russell Westbrook has taken up the mantle as the leader of the Thunder. During that time, Westbrook has provided Thunder fans with semi-nightly highlights and a triple-double seemingly every week, leading many to consider Westbrook now the better player.

The recend emergence of Enes Kanter aside, the Thunder have done little to incentivize a return to Oklahoma City for Durant. To be fair, ideas of a free agent Durant have been fuel entirely by outside sources and not Durant himself, but it would be a smart move for his future to leave Oklahoma City. The team’s success in recent years has been almost entirely on the backs of the isolated play of Durant and Westbrook, and without them the Thunder have no team concept.

This video underscores the emotional significance of Durant to Oklahoma City. Durant may choose to leave Oklahoma City for basketball reasons, but he would also be leaving behind a fan base that has given him unconditional support. Durant doesn’t owe those anything, but he might not want to leave that support behind.

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