OKC loses their razor
Try to remember as you’re reading this that, at this time, the Thunder had not traded James Harden to the Houston Rockets. Try to remember that his beard had barely begun, and that he still wore a headband and came off the bench. If you can’t do that, at least try to remember that OKC still has this moment to thank for Steven Adams.
Try.
On June 25, 2009, with the third pick in the NBA Draft, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected… … … James Harden, from Arizona State University.
The Thunder had moved up in the draft lottery from the fourth pick to the third, but luckily had not moved up to the second. There were (and still are) rumors that OKC was enamored of Hasheem Thabeet, and that he’d have been the choice ahead of Harden if he’d been available. Luckily, the Memphis Grizzlies, with Marc Gasol already on the roster, jumped on that grenade.
James Harden was, at the time, maybe not controversial, but was considered a bit of a reach. Many mocks had OKC taking Ricky Rubio, and Harden going around sixth. Russell Westbrook, you see, was incapable of being a real point guard – or at least that’s what many people thought.
Thank Sam Presti for ignoring those people.