Kevin Durant was asked by reporters to respond to the news that assistant coach Monty Williams' wife Ingrid had passed away as the result of a car accident, and the forward was visibly choked up as he tried to respond.
Mother-of-five Ingrid passed away after being involved in a collision with a female driver. The 44-year-old, who was hit head-on by the other car, was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died soon after.
Three of her children were also reportedly in the car, and while one had been released from hospital, two remain under the care of doctors although are "expected to be ok" according to Oklahoma City Police Department Captain Paco Balderrama.
The driver of the other car involved in the incident was pronounced dead at the scene. The Thunder are expected to hold a minute-silence before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans, who Monty previously coached until last year, later this evening as a sign of respect.
"I tried to think about what I'm going to say, but I just love Coach Monty so much, man. I feel for him. Somebody we all love ... I just don't know what to say. I'm sorry, excuse me," a visibly moved Durant told reporters.
"The Thunder organization has heavy hearts tonight with the news of Ingrid's passing," the team said in a statement. "Words cannot adequately describe how deep our sorrow is for the loss of Monty's wife.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Monty and his family, and we will support him in every way possible. We know the entire community of Oklahoma City has them in their prayers."
Numerous players from around the NBA took to Twitter to send their best wishes to the Williams family, including Pelicans star Anthony Davis. He wrote: "Completely devastated. Ingrid Williams was like a 2nd mother to me when I got to NOLA. My thoughts & prayers are with Monty & the family."
Thunder coach Billy Donovan conceded the game against the Pelicans will be a difficult night for the Thunder, but called for his team to 'go out and play' in Ingrid's honour.
"We've got to go out there and do the best job we can. And that's really all there is. It doesn't mean that we're not hurting as an organization, as a team, as a coaching staff, but we're called to have to play tonight, so we have to go out and play tonight," he said.
