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Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant
One of the most intriguing assumptions in NBA history remains the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team had a super-team that they themselves had developed and built through draft picks with players like James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. They were selected in consecutive drafts. All of them would end up winning the MVP award at some point in their respective careers.
The Thunder had a team armed to be a candidate for the title. They even reached the NBA Finals in 2012 when they faced Lebron James, Dwyane Wadwe and the Miami Heat but would end up losing in five games. Oklahoma City never had another chance to return as Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets just before the start of the following season.
Kevin Durant gave details of why he joined the Warriors
That trio eventually broke up, and Durant was the first to do so voluntarily when he left the Thunder in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors. During an appearance on the new Chips series, animated by Warriors forward Draymond Green, Durant detailed his decision to eventually exit the franchise that had selected him.
“It was a sporting decision, but it also mattered little to me. I think it was a situation where I was a perfect fit on the sides of the court for the Warriors and my game had reached a point where I had to see what it would be like. I think that move was logical, ”Durant said.
“I knew I wanted to end up at Golden State even though I had to go through the process of all the meetings. Just the way you guys behaved in the interviews, the way you played, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. “
Durant talked about his relationship with Westbrook after his departure
It was felt in the public that one of the reasons Durant left the Thunder was that he didn’t want to play with Russell Westbrook anymore. Durant quickly refuted those speculations in a 2016 interview with Anthony Slater of Mercury News.
“I want Russ. I do not care what they say. I don’t care what he or the fans say. This is a difficult time in our relationship, but I love Russ. I love your family. They know. I did not do anything morally wrong. I never stabbed anyone in the back in my life, I never did anything behind their back, I never told anyone about their personality. I never did anything like that. I only left teams. I changed teams. Everyone outside was looking at him like ‘Ah, you must not have liked him.’ No, ”Durant said according to Mercury News.
Durant’s decision to join the Warriors was met with much criticism because it meant leaving Westbrook behind, with whom he went to war on several occasions and joined the team that had beaten him in the playoffs. Durant spoke about those perceptions and admitted that he may not have done things right, but he and Westbrook will talk about it in due course.