The Lost Boys of OKC Thunder
Could this trio win an NBA title together?
Article by SG Basketball Coach Victor Tan
In 2012, the OKC Thunder represented the Western Conference and faced off against the LeBron-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The Thunder trio of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and James Harden were the foundation pieces; the engine that propelled the franchise to the cusp of greatness.
Westbrook - the explosive leader and point guard of the group. Whether it was a coast to coast thunderous dunk, or an out-of-nowhere putback jam off an offensive rebound, Westbrook was the energizer bunny, the crowd pleaser and the one to galvanise a lacklustre team to claw back from a 20 point deficit on any given night. His boundless energy and fire, coupled with arena piercing yells, were must-see TV.
Durant - the sleek long range sniper who could win games single handedly by launching 3 pointers or spending a game’s night camped at the free throw line. He was the ultimate compliment to Westbrook’s fiery lane penetrations. His height of 208cm and great wingspan, playing at small forward, made him a player almost impossible to guard at times. He won the regular season MVP in 2014, and was a 4x NBA scoring champion.
Harden - the 6th man of the year in 2012. He was the lefty offensive maestro who could operate as the facilitator or finisher; the glue that bonded the Thunder team and the final piece of a puzzle whom many experts predicted then, to be the birth of a dynasty.
The Break Up:
After the loss to the Cavaliers in the 2012 finals, Harden was traded away after failing to agree on a contract. Stories of him wanting more recognition and parity in importance within the team started to surface. That was the beginning of the end. Although in the following season, the Thunder got the best record in the NBA, losing the precocious skill set of Harden was a handicap they could not overcome. Winning records in the regular season do not translate to NBA Championships. More stories of internal squabbles between the remaining two stars of Westbrook and Durant began to make the rounds before Durant left via free agency in 2017. The OKC Thunder did a horrible job in handling these 3 young players’ ego and their attitude towards the greater picture and responsibility to the franchise.
The Aftermath:
Harden left the Thunder in 2012 and joined the Houston Rockets via trade. He became the regular season MVP in 2018, led the league in assists in 2017 and won the scoring title 3x from 2018-2020. No titles till this day.
Durant left the Thunder via free agency and signed with the Golden State Warriors in 2017. It was a wonderful “union of marriage”, as he won back to back championships with the Warriors in 2017, 2018 and winning finals MVP in both campaigns. However, most critics saw the move as ultra weak, as he simply jumped onto the band wagon of the successful trio of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green’s Warriors.
Westbrook was the last of the star trio to leave. He was crowned the NBA regular season MVP in 2017. He became the first ever player to average a triple double for a whole season, and he proceeded to emulate that feat for the following 2 seasons. He was traded to the Houston Rockets for the 2020 season. No titles till this day.
For a team to succeed at the highest level, sacrifice is crucial. Great players put aside their egos and work for the greater good of the team. Coaches at SG Basketball always emphasise this point to our trainees as we prepare for our CBL or school matches. Individual accolades mean nothing if the team cannot succeed together.
No doubt Westbrook, Harden and Durant are 3 outstanding individual players of all time. If only the Thunder could do a better job in managing their ego, moulding this trio and teaching them the importance of sacrifice.
If only the Thunder management and coaching staff could turn back time.
Westbrook, Durant and Harden… the trio that could have been. If only…