As the weeks go by since Kevin Durant shook NBA history with his free agency decision on July 4, Oklahoma City has been forced to gradually come to terms with the brutal breakup. And one way to do that is by removing all the evidence of the Durant era.
KD's, a restaurant that Durant partially owned in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City, had already been receiving some humorously negative reviews from salty fans in the time since Durant announced his plans to join the Warriors.
So it shouldn't have come as much of a surprise that on Monday, The Oklahoman revealed that the restaurant would be officially closing.
"It has been an honor -- and a lot of fun -- to partner with Kevin Durant at KD's these last few years," Hal Smith, founder and CEO of the Oklahoma-based restaurant group that owned the spot, told the Oklahoman. "We wish him the very best as he takes a new direction in his career."
The Hal Smith Restaurant Group had partnered with Durant to open the restaurant in 2013, the year after Durant unexpectedly led a core of players in their early 20s also including Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka to the NBA Finals.
Although "KD's" itself will no longer exist, Smith said that the restaurant plans to re-open at the same location with a different theme.
"The concept will offer an updated atmosphere with a similar menu to what has been available at that location in the past," the restaurant group said in its announcement.
According to The Oklahoman, the new name and other details regarding the restaurant will be announced this August, and it's still unknown if Durant plans to have any share of the ownership.
"Our restaurant has become a tradition for many in our community for an evening out or to celebrate a special occasion, which is an honor we don't take lightly. We know our guests, we listen to them and we think they'll be really pleased with this transition," Smith said. "We plan to maintain the majority of our current menu, and there's no doubt our famous fried chicken and other favorites will be back."
Just saying, if Durant's longtime co-star ultimately decides to stick around, "Russ'" does have a nice ring to it.
More on Durant:
-- Durant Talks Free Agency, Admits Tom Brady Almost Brought Him to Celtics
-- Why We Don't Hate Kevin Durant
-- Oklahoma City Arena Removes Kevin Durant Banner in Sad Fashion
