Jerami Grant reverses course, the Thunder no longer a ‘sinking ship’

Grant made his return to OKC for the first time since being traded in July to the Denver Nuggets for a 2020 first-round draft pick.

Remember that time that Jerami Grant called the Thunder a sinking ship?

Fans in Oklahoma City may remember the comments the former Thunder forward made over the summer after he was traded to the Denver Nuggets for a 2020 first-round draft pick.

But more than likely, they chose not to care as they welcomed Grant back into Chesapeake Energy Arena with a warm ovation on Friday night.

Grant didn’t play his best game against his former team, coming off the bench to score just six points in 21 minutes on 1-of-6 shooting from the field in Oklahoma City’s 113-101 win.

After the game, Grant was asked about what is different about this Thunder team than the one he was a part of last year, and told Maddie Lee of The Oklahoman that it’s “everything”.

“I mean, everything. I mean, there’s only a few players there that I played with.”

Grant also seemed to have a reversal of opinion when asked by reporters what it is that makes Oklahoma City special this season.

“I mean, they’re talented. They’re a completely different team, they’ve got a lot of pieces.”

Of the experience, Grant said that he loved being back in Oklahoma City and that he has “a bunch of great memories” from his three seasons with the Thunder.

In September, Grant had told Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports that it wasn’t difficult to leave OKC because the Thunder had “some things going on”.

“I don’t think it was too difficult. There were some things going on in Oklahoma and they kind of got rid of a lot of different piece. For me it was almost good to get out of a sinking ship.”

He’ll get to face his former team two more times this season. The Nuggets will make the trip back to Oklahoma City on Friday, March 20, followed by the Thunder heading to play in Denver on Monday, March 30.