Thunder centre Enes Kanter has been a revelation since joining the team at the Feb. 19 trade deadline, and Saturday he voiced his pleasure with leaving his old team.
"I think the difference is, I like playing basketball here," Kanter said, via ESPN.com's Royce Young.
"I think that's the most important thing. I never liked playing basketball before in my NBA career and this is the first time I felt like playing basketball there, for my team, for the fans, for my teammates for my coaches, for everybody. So, that's the first time."
Kanter is averaging 17.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 16 appearances since being traded by the Jazz. He averaged 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game for Utah earlier this season.
"I love it," Kanter said of his change of scenery, per Young.
"It's a team I've never experienced before and I actually like playing basketball here. I'm just so comfortable and everything is in the right place. I'm just really happy to be here."
The former third overall pick was involved in a three-team trade that saw Reggie Jackson leave Oklahoma City for the Pistons. Kanter had become frustrated with his role with the Jazz, and asked for a trade.
"It wasn't just a one-game or two-game frustration," he said, according to ESPN.
"It was a three-and-a-half-year frustration. I'm happy for both sides. I think it worked out well for both sides. I'm definitely happy that I'm part of the Oklahoma City team, a winner, so I think it's going to go really well in the future."
Since joining the Thunder, Kanter has been utilised as the main pick-and-roll partner for Russell Westbrook.
He has 22 assists in 16 games with the Thunder after recording only 26 assists in the first 49 games of the season with the Jazz. Kanter praised his new point guard for the explosion of assists.
"He's the best (point guard) in the league," Kanter said of Westbrook, via ESPN.
"I've never really had a point guard like that, I've never had a point guard. He's just the best in the league."