Jim Ross on Durant leaving OKC: 'Like getting jilted by your significant other'
WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross' passion for Oklahoma Sooners football is widely known in the world of wrestling, but he also has a soft spot for NBA basketball - and the local Oklahoma City Thunder.
The major offseason talking point in the area was whether or not former league Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant was going to sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent, which he ultimately did when he took his talents to the Bay Area to join the Golden State Warriors.
Talking with theScore on Friday about his one-man show "Ringside with Jim Ross" which takes place on Nov. 20 in Toronto, Ross mentioned how Durant's departure to the enemy Warriors wasn't much of a surprise to him or anyone in the OKC community.
"I don't think anyone was totally shocked. That doesn't say that we're happy that he left," Ross said. "It's like getting jilted by your significant other. He was here, and he was the face of the franchise. I met him a couple of times. He's a nice guy, and big wrestling fan. He'd come down to the O.U. basketball games from time to time, and I'd chat with him and say hello. We felt badly that he left, but it wasn't a total shock."
The Thunder have started off the 2016-17 regular season strong with a 6-3 record sans Durant, although a majority of their wins have come against several of the league's bottom feeders. Nevertheless, Ross is optimistic about the team's chances moving forward, especially if they can reach the postseason.
"Can we win the West? I don't know if we're going to win the West this year," Ross said. "Can we get into the playoffs? I think so. Once you're in the playoffs, everything starts all over. It's a succession of seven-game series' with your adversary. You win or you go home. If we can get into the playoffs with some momentum, and these young guys come together as a unit, we can give people some problems. Especially when you have a healthy (Russell) Westbrook, who's a conundrum to anyone he plays."
The Warriors already own a convincing 122-96 win over the Thunder on Nov. 3. The two parties will meet three more times this season, with Ross - who holds no ill will toward Durant and his decision - hoping for a much more positive result for the Thunder.
"Hopefully he'll (Durant) do well. I'm not a hater," he added. "I don't have enough fuel in my tank to use part of it for hate and issues. I hope he does well. But, at the same time, I hope we beat their ass every time we play them."