Kevin Durant will not be probably the most beloved NBA participant because of his resolution to hitch the Golden State Warriors in 2016; this resolution robbed their largest rival, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunderan opportunity to combat. However earlier than his notorious free company transfer, Durant was universally admired as he led a hometown Thunder staff constructed by the draft to nice heights.
By means of all of it, one of many biggest small forwards of all time has endured many heated playoff battles. One playoff collection specifically is going on proper now Phoenix Suns » thought the star when requested on X (previously Twitter) what the hardest playoff battle was he was in a position to overcome was – the Thunder’s 2012 Western Convention Finals sport in opposition to a red-hot San Antonio Spurs staff.
“WCF 2012, Spurs…in opposition to a staff that received like 20 video games in a row or some shit. Down 0-2, received 4 straight video games to go to the finals…legendary collection in my view, particularly that sport 6,” Durant wrote.
Certainly, the Thunder could have entered that 12 months as a legit contending staff, however they did not have a lot expertise, particularly in comparison with this Spurs staff who nonetheless had his legendary trio of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker intact. This staff additionally had a younger Kawhi Leonard locking down gamers on the wing.
They had been coming off a heartbreaking exit from the Western Convention Finals in 2011, and it appeared like they had been poised for a similar destiny a 12 months later. However the Thunder managed to dig deep, with James Harden turning into an enormous star within the massive stage of the playoffs. They had been hanging by a thread, however they managed to reel off 4 straight wins to take down a superb Spurs staff, paving the best way for Oklahoma Metropolis’s first (and solely) journey to the NBA Finals thus far.
Associated Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder InformationArticle continues under
Thunder stays NBA’s largest storyline after respiration within the Kevin Durant period
It does not occur too usually {that a} staff manages to draft three Corridor of Famers in back-to-back drafts. However the Thunder managed to do it with their picks of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden – and within the early 2010s, it regarded like they had been going to be probably the most unstoppable pressure within the league for years.
Alas, after the Thunder’s loss within the 2012 NBA Finals, they determined to commerce Harden – a choice that haunts the franchise to at the present time. Harden regarded like a long-shot guard after turning round their collection in opposition to the Spurs, so it was all of the extra puzzling that the staff traded him to save lots of pennies – damaging the franchise’s long-term aggressive prospects, resulting in Durant’s eventual departure. .
