The OKC Thunder likely benefited from LeBron James' departure from the West Coast, as the conference landscape looks shallower than it has in years.
While Oklahoma City is rejoicing in its seemingly straightforward path back to the Conference Finals, one former Thunder legend is choosing to view the situation very differently: through the lens of his own legacy.
Former OKC darling-turned-villain Kevin Durant couldn't help but compare James' migration East to when he joined a loaded Warriors team that had just toppled his Thunder in the previous postseason.
"Last time they put three 20-point scorers on a team, they said it was unfair, which was the team I was on. They got four 25-point scorers on this team," Durant said in a recent interview.
Kevin Durant still trying to (unsuccessfully) justify his Thunder betrayal
It's no mystery that Durant's abandonment of OKC scarred the city for years. There is an argument to be made that the city may never fully forgive him for joining the very team responsible for its demise in 2016.
But now in 2026, Durant is still looking for opportunities to absolve himself of that blame.
His strategy of "See, I'm not the only one who does it" fails to land, as there are obvious differences between the two situations.
First, James joins a 76ers team that just got swept by the newly minted NBA Champion, the New York Knicks, in the Conference Semifinals. Philadelphia has indeed asserted themselves as a prolific threat in the East, but they are not the team to beat.
The Knicks are still the defending champions and are bringing back nearly every piece of their postseason roster. Not to mention the Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs lurk in the shadows of the Western Conference if the Sixers do make it out unscathed.
In short, the 2026-27 title race is far from over.
Durant, on the other hand, joined a team that had just gone 73-9 in the regular season and went to seven games in the NBA Finals. After he signed with them, another Warriors title was all but a foregone conclusion.
Second, James isn't joining the team that booted him from the previous postseason.
The Durant-esque thing to do would've been to join the Thunder, thereby formulating a superteam and ensuring the Larry O'Brien Trophy's return to Bricktown.
KD grasping at straws to erase a decade-old narrative
Durant's choice of team was the biggest gripe Thunder fans held regarding his decision. It felt personal.
Not only did he leave, but he joined the team that had just embarrassed him, fully embodying the phrase, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."
While James focuses on earning one last ring before he rides off into the sunset, Durant is using the situation to show that he still can't ignore the opinions of others. By inserting himself into the conversation, he comes off as bitter and resentful towards folks who accused him of taking the easy way out.
The fact that he is still so unsettled by the idea indicates that those people might've been right.
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