How 5 seconds and a trio of OKC Thunder youngsters helped me embrace the new era

It took over three months to come to terms with what happened but a trio of youngsters and a five-second play has me embracing the new OKC Thunder.

Under the heading of its only one game but —- In actuality, it was only one play but that one play served up a reason why this coming campaign and next several OKC Thunder seasons as the franchise “repositions” will be so much fun for fans.

The play in question came near the end of the first quarter and involved a trio of youngsters. One didn’t even touch the ball but his effect was no less important to the moment.

At 1:40 of the first quarter rookie, Darius Bazley begins the offensive play facing Maxi Kleber; a 6’10, 240-pound capable defender. For context, Bazley weighs 205 pounds (I’m thinking that’s generous, but the NBA is supposedly cracking down on measurement accuracy.) Two seconds later THIS happens…

Sure, Terrance Ferguson got the shine for his (no pun intended) thunderous dunk from the TV crew and the Thunder bench. Yet, so much more is happening it’s worthy of the revisit. Remember Bazley is 19-years old and playing in his first professional game outside Summer League.

Several things need to go right during this one play for those next two or three seconds to go so smoothly and it brings everything full circle to why this one moment has me so excited about the future.

As Bazley aggressively drives baseline and meets Kleber he has to do a number of things in quick succession. First, he has to maintain his balance and not travel. Since Kleber is bodying him and using his defensive slide to keep him in front Bazley also has to stay in bounds. The rookie does both but incredibly in the middle of Euro stepping along the baseline, he looks toward his bench where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is camped out. He’s open but there is a defender cheating off him. 99 times out of 100 the offensive player (especially a rookie) makes one of three choices:

1. Tries to force the bucket (most rookies, if they don’t travel, pick this option)
2. Get the contact and draw a foul
3. Or kick the ball out to the teammate for the corner three

At this point, it appears like Darius sees the Prince of OKC pointing toward Terrance Ferguson. The remarkable thing of the next part of this sequence is when TFerg catches it the only Maverick not standing in the paint is SGA’s defender. In other words, the pass has to be timed and delivered perfectly. All while Bazley is navigating the baseline and passing off one foot.

Although the dunk is why everyone erupts I marveled over the youthful trio involved in the play. I get downright giddy over these five seconds and keep rewinding the play over and over. Perhaps my enthusiasm is simply tied to the return of competitive ball but I’m convinced it’s something more. It is the moment I’ve finally released the angst I carried all summer long once the news of July 6th was delivered.

The thing is for as much as contending to win titles is the end goal, it’s can become a burden. In most of the 11 previous seasons, the OKC Thunder have either been among the Western Conference favorites or considered a dark horse who could surprise. That takes a toll on players, on a franchise and yes on a fanbase.

In many regards, some of my favorite seasons came early in the ‘Golden Era’. The years before Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, or James Harden were even considered Most Valuable Player candidates. The early playoff appearances when the young brash Westbrook didn’t know any better but than to believe he could shift the outcome of a game in the dying seconds and then go and do it.  Long before there was ever any issues between the dynamic duo and before Harden was traded. The year OKC fell behind 2-0 to the Spurs and then magically arose to sweep them in the next four games. Not to age us – but those sure were the days.

The problem is once the mountain is climbed with just the flag to be planted there is nowhere to go but to stay on top fighting off all the others trying to usurp your position. Repeatedly trying to take that last step while fending off the challengers is hard work. The worst part though is not being able to retain the position or take that ever-important next step – the one where the flag is finally planted at the apex.

So this is why a simple five-second play and a trio of young talents have freed my angst. The truth is the ‘Golden era’ was magical in OKC but it’s been years since the joy we initially felt in every playoff game was present. Aside from the crazy comeback Russell Westbrook single-handedly mounted two seasons ago those moments have been few and far between, especially in April or later.

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Still, imagine how disheartening it is for some other fanbases. The Atlanta Hawks had a 10-year playoff run from 2008 through 2017 but never got to the finals and only reached the Eastern Conference Finals once (2015).

How about the 20-year consecutive playoff run of the Jazz between 1984 through 2003. That streak included the Stockton and Malone era. Jerry Sloan coached the Jazz in 14 of those seasons and unbelievably never won Coach of the Year.

Utah was more successful than the Hawks reaching the Western Conference Finals five times and moving on to the NBA Finals twice. Yet the Jazz lost on both occasions since their fate was to ascend during the Michael Jordan, Bulls era. And the years MJ was out the Jazz couldn’t get past Hakeem Olajuwon and his Rockets. I can’t even imagine how many ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’ jokes the Mailman and Stockton endured.

Worse? Try being Timberwolves fans. In 30 years of the franchise’s existence, they’ve been to the postseason nine times (eight of those consecutive in the Kevin Garnett era). In all but one of those trips, they lost in the first round.

Although the downward trend of the Thunder magical era hurt, the franchise made nine playoff trips, reached the Western Conference Finals four times and played in one NBA Finals.

The point is losing sucks but winning only up to a point can be equally draining on the most hardcore fans. At a certain point, it’s almost a relief to go back to the basics of enjoying the sculpting of a new young troop who fans can watch grow and ascend. With no pressure on winning every success is so much more gratifying.

As this new era begins there is a silver lining in that ownership and management created a culture and identity. The template is in-house and the draft cupboard is full.

It took me over three months to get here and all of five seconds to shift my position. The prospect of witnessing this trio develop before our very eyes while fantasizing about the future is exciting. Let’s embrace it and enjoy it!