The OKC Thunder franchise is not without its scars, and the Golden State Warriors are a big reason why. After blowing a 3-1 Western Conference Finals lead back in 2016, then-Thunder superstar Kevin Durant elected to jump ship to join the very team that sent him packing.
Thunder fans have held on to that animosity, even as their team has since won a ring, while Stephen Curry and company have slowly drifted off into irrelevancy. Recent rumors, however, could be changing that trend and inserting the Dubs right back into the thick of the Western Conference race.
Recent developments surrounding LeBron James and his impending free agency broke, and it appears that Golden State is one of the front-runners to land The King.
If that happens, coach Steve Kerr would have a core four of Curry, James, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green.
Thunder and Warriors would be a battle between generations
If the rumors were to come true, there is a legitimate chance the Western Conference could see the reincarnation of a once-dominant franchise.
Curry is still shooting at the same level he was ten years ago; LeBron has proven himself to be a valuable two-way asset; and Butler and Green have been among the league's top defenders for some time. Plus, it would give James yet another crack at the team that just embarrassed him this postseason.
The move would spark one obvious concern among Warrior fans, though: age.
With a combined average age of nearly 38, the four future Hall-of-Famers aren't exactly in their prime. A signing of James might leave some fans wondering whether the team might be more of a side show than a legitimate contender, especially given Butler's ongoing path back from a torn ACL.
Nevertheless, the team would possess no shortage of experience, which is an extremely valuable trait when it comes to embarking on the road to the NBA Finals.
It would be interesting to see how such a team would match up against current conference juggernauts like the Thunder and Spurs. Both are significantly younger and more athletic, but the four aging veterans likely see aspects of the game that the other two teams couldn't dream of at this point.
Their years of experience pitted against sheer talent might be a tighter battle than many would give them credit for.
The Thunder, in particular, might be a challenge. Though still young, they possess lengthy playoff experience and play together with the discipline of aging veterans. Combine that with youthful exuberance, and the Warriors could have their hands full.
Though still a rumor, early signs point to this hypothetical gaining traction. San Francisco is close enough to Los Angeles that James wouldn't have to uproot his family, and he and Steph Curry are long-time friends.
They expressed their love for playing with one another during the Olympics two summers ago, and it wouldn't be far-fetched if James decided to relive that experience next season.
Whether it would mean the rebirth of a serious Western Conference threat or a fun send-off for a few NBA legends would remain to be seen.
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