Kevin Durant returned to play against Oklahoma City for the first time Saturday since signing in the offseason with Golden State. He was booed (predictably). Russell Westbrook tried to be the hero (predictably). And Durant got the last laugh in a 130-114 win for the Warriors, in which he scored 34 points in 33 minutes (also predictably). It doesn't always happen that way, of course, locally. Since 2000, athletes who used to play for local teams before leaving have pretty much run the gamut in how their return games played out. Let's take a look at some of the most interesting returns:
Stephon Marbury: Feb. 20, 2000
The former Timberwolves guard returned to Minnesota with the Nets for the first time since forcing a trade and breaking the hearts of many fans who had visions of a Kevin Garnett/Marbury duo dominating for years to come. Marbury, perhaps the most Westbrook-like player in Wolves history, had a very Durant-like return. He scored 39 points amid a chorus of boos from Wolves fans, leading the Nets to a 91-89 victory. Garnett went just 9-for-33 from the field, calling it a "tough, tough game" afterward.
Chuck Knoblauch: May 2, 2001
Technically, Knoblauch's first game back with the Yankees after being traded by the Twins was May 8, 1998. But nobody remembers that. Everybody remembers the game three years later, when angry Twins fans — awakening after years of slumber while Minnesota was terrible — pelted the field with dollar hot dogs (and worse) when the Twins played the Yankees. It was so bad that Tom Kelly had to come out to left field to plead with fans to stop.
Carlos Gomez: May 21, 2010
The script couldn't have played out any more aptly. Gomez came back to Target Field with his new team, the Brewers, and crushed a three-run homer in his first game — trimming a 15-0 Twins lead to 15-3 in the eighth inning. The game situation didn't stop Gomez from flinging his bat and admiring the blast, drawing the ire of his former teammates. "Things never change," said Ron Gardenhire, the Twins manager at the time.
Marian Gaborik: Nov. 20, 2010
After spurning the Wild's lucrative contract offer and signing with the Rangers, Gaborik was booed every time he touched the puck in his first game back with New York. The Rangers, though, prevailed 5-2 and Gaborik had an assist in the game. "Finally, it's over with," Gaborik said afterward, admitting he was nervous beforehand.
Percy Harvin: Dec. 7, 2014
The mercurial wide receiver returned to play the Vikings for the first time (at TCF Bank Stadium) and had a big game for the Jets. In fact, his 124 yards receiving still stand as his most recent 100-yard game. Harvin was booed throughout, and the Vikings got the last laugh when Jarius Wright scored on a very Harvin-esque 87-yard catch and run TD in overtime.
Kevin Love: Jan. 31, 2015
Given Love's departure from Minnesota was one of the most acrimonious partings in local sports history, it was no surprise that the forward was booed lustily in his first game at Target Center with the Cavaliers. Love managed 14 points and 17 rebounds in a one-sided Cavaliers victory. Fans won't get a chance to revive those boos when Cleveland plays in Minnesota on Tuesday, as Love already has been ruled out because of an injury. But hey, it likely means another former Wolves forward — Derrick Williams — will get more playing time.
