Even with Kevin Durant’s widely publicized trade from Oklahoma City, things are starting to get better on both fronts. That basketball era has come and gone, and the former MVP is no longer with the Golden State Warriors. Over the past few years, Durant has been extremely appreciative of the Thunder and has discussed what he would have done differently.
With the exception of selling Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a cornerstone, Oklahoma City’s second rebuild has mostly mirrored the first. Naturally, SGA didn’t start out as a star in Oklahoma City, but he has developed into a strong candidate for MVP. All the linkage, though, is with the youthful, lively, athletic club that surprised everyone by storming the league early.
Durant has played with numerous Hall of Fame teammates, won numerous titles, and been a member of a few outstanding teams. However, he stated in a recent interview at Boardroom that his best NBA seasons were the ones he spent growing up in Oklahoma City.
When questioned about the greatest fun he has had in the league, Durant responded, “It has to be the OKC time period because it was like the entry point into all this.” That seems to be the basis for everything. You understand what I mean when I say that we were playing against dynasties when we were young.
Our opponents included the Lakers with Kobe during their back-to-back victories, Dallas during their championship run, and Miami with LeBron and Dwayne Wade. That was the beginning of it all, and I believe that since I arrived early, Serge (Ibaka), James (Harden), and Russ (Westbrook) were thrown into the fire at the age of 22 or 23.
Since hindsight is 20/20, Durant has explained in detail the things he would have done differently if given another chance. Nevertheless, his time in Oklahoma City is what shaped Thunder basketball, regardless of how painful the exit was.
In addition to leading a team to the NBA Finals and winning an MVP, he amassed an incredible number of victories for the fledgling team. His Thunder teams were victorious in a few postseason series and provided Oklahoma City and Seattle basketball fans with some of the best in franchise history.
Fans have been considering his possible comeback to end his career due to his flattering remarks made about the Thunder during the past several seasons. Though it’s still a long shot, Durant has more recently had the opportunity to think back on his time in Oklahoma City.
“As I grew older, I realized that guys in their thirties today are like, ‘We grew up watching you dudes in your twenties,” Durant remarked. “Many young individuals were drawn to that team because they saw how youthful we all were. Serge, Russ, James, and I all arrived in consecutive years, and we simply continued to expand from there. I think I had the greatest fun in the league during that.
Paradoxically, Durant’s Suns might face the revamped Thunder squad in the postseason. At the moment, Oklahoma City is the No. 3 seed with flexibility to move around, while Phoenix is the No. 7 seed with a chance to advance. And that would be a moment of complete symmetry for Durant and the franchise.
Would you like to participate in the conversation?For the most recent Thunder news, follow us on Twitter and like Inside the Thunder on Facebook. Meet the team that goes behind the scenes as well.
