Thunder GM: Fans should be grateful for what Durant did for OKC

On a franchise-altering day for the Oklahoma City Thunder, general manger Sam Presti wasn't filled with the same vitriol others felt after losing superstar Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors.

"I just want to start off by saying, of course we're disappointed Kevin Durant's tenure with the Thunder has come to a close," Presti told reporters late Monday. "I think he helped Oklahoma City and Oklahoma in many ways ... We need to be thankful of that."

After spending the first nine years of his career with the same franchise, Durant shockingly announced Monday morning that he would be signing with the Warriors.

Many Thunder fans were quick to label Durant a traitor, and some took to burning his jersey.

Presti, however, urged fans to look back on Durant's tenure fondly and without anger, as he believes the seven-time All-Star and former MVP did plenty for the organization.

"How should they feel about him? You know, listen, I'm not going to tell people how to feel or not to judge or what have you. I just think that what he represented for the city was something larger than basketball ...

"We need to recognize what exactly took place here over the last eight years and recognize it and celebrate it."

In what's likely the most difficult day of Presti's tenure with the Thunder, the GM urged the fan base to remain confident in the organization, and for Oklahomans to take pride in where they're from.

"They should feel thankful, grateful. They should not - I can't tell them not to be disappointed, but the one thing I would say is the city should be incredibly proud of what they've helped create for the Thunder," Presti said. "It's not possible without that. They need to carry that on. They need to carry on the spirit and fight and the grit, because that was here before the Thunder. That was here before the Thunder, that spirit, that ability to continue to press forward. That's in the water here.

"I think all of us, Kevin included, was a beneficiary of that approach and what's in Oklahoma. So my message would be, carry on. Carry on and continue to be proud of what it is that you represent. It's much bigger than the Thunder."