In his first-ever podcast interview, Clippers celebrity James Harden mentioned his legacy, sneaker offers, multi-million-dollar enterprise recommendation he acquired from the late Kobe Bryant and extra in his look on “Earn Your Leisure.” One of the attention-grabbing tidbits from the hour-long interview was Harden’s retrospective opinion on his former Thunder squad.
Harden, concerning his time with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC, acknowledged that the Thunder would have received a pair of championships, at minimal, in the event that they hadn’t disbanded.
“My rookie yr, we had been the eighth seed and performed the Lakers, who had been the primary seed,” Harden said. “We scared them, however they ended up successful the championship. My second yr, we had been within the Western Convention Finals in opposition to Dallas, they usually went on to win a championship. My third yr, we’re within the [2011 NBA] Finals in opposition to the Warmth they usually received a championship.”
After successful a gold medal within the 2012 London Olympics alongside his Thunder teammates Durant and Westbrook, Harden then mentioned that he believed the staff was primed to win an NBA championship.
“That summer time, we went to the Olympics and received a gold medal. My fourth yr, it’s on. However, within the summertime, I obtained traded. Simply a few days earlier than the primary sport.”
Shockingly, Harden revealed that Oklahoma Metropolis’s younger core was break up up over a $4 million dispute.
“[We split up] over $4 million,” Harden expressed disappointment. “It was throughout 4 million {dollars}.”
After successful Sixth Man of the 12 months and serving to lead the Thunder to back-to-back Western Convention Finals appearances, Harden later clarified that he was due for a wage improve. Nonetheless, the staff prolonged standout defender Serge Ibaka as an alternative and traded Harden to the Houston Rockets.
If the generational trio of Durant, Westbrook and Harden had by no means dissolved, the Clippers guard believes Oklahoma Metropolis might have develop into a dynasty.
“We’d’ve received two chips at the least, on the minimal,” claimed Harden.
Whereas Harden’s imaginative and prescient of the Thunder’s potential is lofty, it isn’t far-fetched. Regardless of not successful a championship, the Oklahoma Metropolis staff that includes Durant, Westbrook and Harden is considered the most effective within the historical past of the NBA. Within the years following Harden’s departure, every of the budding Thunder stars won the Most Valuable Player Award.
Durant took house the NBA MVP following a 2013-14 season wherein he led the league in points (2,593) per sport (32.0 PPG) and was chosen to the All-NBA First Crew. Westbrook received the 2016-17 MVP just a few years later. That season, Westbrook led the league in factors per sport (31.6 PPG) whereas averaging a triple-double. The UCLA product additionally broke Oscar Robertson’s report with 42 triple-doubles in a single season.
The next yr, Harden earned his first MVP as a member of the Rockets. That season, the 28-year-old guard averaged 30.4 factors, 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per sport whereas serving to the Rockets to an NBA-leading 65 wins. Like Durant and Westbrook, Harden led the league in scoring in his MVP season whereas pacing the league in three-pointers and 50-point games. The previous Rocket joined Michael Jordan as the one participant to common at the least 20 factors, eight assists, 5 rebounds and 1.7 steals in a season.
Given the immense success every All-Star loved following their break up, it isn’t unreasonable to imagine that the Thunder might have received two championships, if no more, as Harden acknowledged.
Regardless of not but capturing an NBA title, Harden isn’t bitter about being traded from the Thunder. As a substitute, he’s grateful that he was allowed to blossom right into a celebrity in Houston and past following the commerce.
“In all probability not,” Harden stated when requested if he would have developed into an MVP-caliber participant in Oklahoma Metropolis. “It’s laborious to say. I used to be [a] Sixth Man [of the Year award winner], however I used to be finally going to have to begin. I solely [came off the bench] as a sacrifice for the staff. It made us higher. However finally, I used to be going to have to begin.
“Like, my ability was getting there to the place, by my fourth yr, I’m not sitting on no bench. I’m not Sixth Man, I already obtained that.”
Regardless of believing that he probably missed the chance to develop into a champion with the Thunder, Harden reiterated that his departure could have benefited his profession.
“It was throughout 4 million {dollars},” Harden said of his divorce with Oklahoma City. “It was a blessing, although. Coming off the Finals, which I didn’t play effectively, after which the Olympics… a chance to be round all these vets, my first yr in Houston, I went loopy.”
Whereas it may be good to examine what might have been in Oklahoma Metropolis, Harden acknowledged that he’s nonetheless laser-focused on including an NBA championship to his Corridor of Fame-worthy resume.
“I’m nonetheless gonna attempt to get one,” proclaimed Harden. “That’s the aim. I work my [butt] off on daily basis to win one.”
