The OKC Thunder reached four Conference Finals in their 10-year history. After consecutive first-round exits they are doing Russell Westbrook and their fans a disservice.
May 17, 2011, the OKC Thunder played their first Conference Finals game in the team’s short history. Many predicted numerous Conference finals appearances for the original OK3 (Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden). The trio ultimately reached two conference finals appearances. Then OKC traded Harden prior to the start of the 2012-13 season and the dream of what could’ve been vanished.
Harden and Durant are back in the conference finals together for the first time since 2012. Only this time they’re on opposing squads, while Westbrook and the Thunder sit at home.
Pundits point to the OKC Thunder’s shortcomings primarily linking the Harden trade or Westbrook as being uncooperative. Shout outs to Jalen Rose and Chris Brousard for recognizing Westbrook is not the sour source in OKC.
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A wise man once said the definition of insanity is doing the same over and over again expecting a different result. The OKC Thunder led by Sam Presti, not Westbrook have been doing the same thing for 10 years. During exit interviews, Carmelo Anthony referenced how he did not have a defined role on the team.
Similarly, Washington Wizards star John Wall stated in a recent interview “Our problem a lot of times is our guys don’t understand their role“.
Perhaps it’s a coincidence both players offered tidbits about unidentified roles. It could also be a testament to how former Thunder head coach Scott Brooks and Billy Donovan mirror one another.
On a different note
Maybe Thunder Nation was spoiled with such success in their infancy stages. Take fellow NBA player Chris Paul and Alex Ovechkin of the NHL for example. Both athletes have played 13 seasons, both have made at least seven All-Star teams and both have made 10 appearances in the playoffs.
This postseason Paul and Ovechkin each made their first trip to the Conference Finals.
Alex Ovechkin and Chris Paul: Both born in 1985, both made their NHL/NBA debuts in 2005, both made conference finals for the first time within a day of each other.
— Jimmy Clarke (@JimmyClarke) May 9, 2018
As this year’s Western Conference Finals begins it’ll be more bitter than sweet for Thunder Nation as they witness Durant and Harden face off. However, instead of pondering what could have been, try to focus on how to maximize what can still be with Westbrook.
Looking forward, it may be the Thunder’s best chance for success may start with a change at the top.