Kevin Durant’s former Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder teammate has defined why he didn’t win an NBA championship with the Thunder.
Durant, a two-time champion with the Golden State Warriors, was a part of an excellent group in Oklahoma Metropolis alongside fellow MVPs Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
They made one NBA Finals look, dropping to LeBron James’ Miami Warmth in 2012, and had been a sport away from beating the 73-9 Warriors in 2016 earlier than Durant joined them.
The Thunder had been favourites to win the 2012 title going into the Finals. They continue to be one of many greatest “what if?” tales in NBA historical past. And a member of that group mentioned they may have gained no less than two championships.
Serge Ibaka, NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors and three-time All-NBA Defensive group participant, defined why the Durant-led Thunder didn’t win an NBA title.
Chatting with TMZ, he mentioned, “Proper now, while you look again, it’s straightforward to say. We may have gained no less than two or three. No less than. It’s straightforward to say, however it’s not straightforward to do it. There are loads of issues that may occur on the best way to a championship.
“Generally it’s not all the time about expertise. We had all of the expertise. However these issues go along with luck too. Generally folks from the skin can’t see it, however behind closed doorways, there are loads of issues, loads of work that must be executed. We may have gained minimal two.”
Harden and Westbrook have fallen in need of championships at each cease of their careers, and Durant’s groups have disenchanted within the postseason since he left Golden State.
In the meantime, the 2025 Oklahoma Metropolis put collectively one of many best seasons in league historical past. The Thunder gained the championship after successful 68 video games within the common season, and their celebrity Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gained MVP.
Ibaka, after failing to win with the Thunder, mentioned it’s a must to take your hat off for the groups which can be capable of climb the mountain.
“It’s not straightforward. So while you see folks try this, it’s a must to give them credit score.”
After paying Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, the Thunder’s younger core has stayed collectively. That provides them a run on the subsequent few championships because the league’s dominant group.
Ibaka spoke about their possibilities of successful a number of rings, saying, “They’ve loads of potential. The sport now may be very completely different. This technology has an opportunity to be top-of-the-line, however it’s all the time straightforward to say however laborious to do. On paper, they’ve an opportunity.
“Many issues can occur on the best way there, however on paper, they’ve the possibility to win three. They’re younger, they’re going to maintain getting higher and higher. Sam [Presti] has executed an incredible job of placing the group collectively, and now they’ve confidence. It’s their second.”
In a stacked Western Convention, they’ll must battle by the NBA’s elite.
Durant now performs for the Houston Rockets, who had been the two-seed final season. The Lakers re-signed Luka Doncic, maintaining their elite duo with him and LeBron James. In the meantime, Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP, led the Denver Nuggets to a seven-game sequence in opposition to the Thunder within the final postseason.
They need to be favourites within the West, however the Thunder’s competitors subsequent season demonstrates precisely why it’s so laborious to win one title, not to mention repeat.
