A young squad led by coach Scott Brooks, the Thunder showed a lot of promise with a burgeoning duo of Durant and Westbrook taking turns to put on a show. The MVP duo would lead the Oklahoma City team, defeating the likes of Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki in the postseason.
Made it to The Finals
Unfortunately, there was always something missing when it came to topping their season with a Larry O'Brien trophy. The closest the Thunder would come was a 2012 Finals appearance where they faced The Heatles, who sent them home in five games.
As years went by, rumor mills suggested a lack of tuning between KD and Russ. The two multiple-time All-Stars were a complete contrast when it came to their style of play. The final nail in their soured relationship was the 3-1 lead blown against the Warriors in the 2016 WCF.
Having been teammates with both Durant and Westbrook, former NBA player turned ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins made no qualms about accusing the two scoring champions of not sorting out their relationship for the bigger picture.
The hostility
Big Perk isn’t one to mince his words; his current relationship with KD is evidence of that. Addressing why the Thunder failed to win on the biggest stage despite having it all, Big Perk blamed the lack of understanding between the Slim Reaper and Mr.Triple-Double.
The former champion once said that two stars (Durant and Westbrook) were never on the same page and their inability to connect with each other killed the Thunder. Perkins, who was part of the 2008 Celtics championship, understood what role a team culture played in winning, having been alongside the likes of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
After the 3-1 debacle against Stephen Curry and Co., Durant decided to part ways with the franchise, ironically joining the Warriors, creating one of the biggest power-shifting dynamics in NBA history. This worsened the already fractured relationship between KD and Brodie, with the two not hesitating to indulge in smack on the court. Nonetheless, as years passed, the two seemed to have mended their ways. Hence, a reunion could be the perfect treat for their fans.
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