Kendrick Perkins talked about how James Harden left the OKC Thunder in 2012 and the way LeBron James and Dwyane Wade influenced him.
One of many largest “what ifs” within the NBA is the 2012 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. After reaching the NBA Finals in 2012, the Thunder parted methods with their profitable duo.
From 2007 to 2009, the OKC Thunder drafted three future MVPs: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.
This legendary trio shortly developed into an important workforce, main a younger OKC workforce to the NBA Finals in 2012, the place they misplaced to the Miami Warmth.
However that summer season, GM Sam Presti traded James Harden to the Rockets. And, in accordance with Kendrick Perkins, it was the NBA Finals rivalry that influenced that call.
Kendrick Perkins lately spoke on the Highway Trippin’ podcast. When discussing Kevin Durant’s feedback about James Harden leaving the OKC Thunder.
Perkins validated these feedback, including that the workforce knew earlier than he left, as Durant had seen Harden hear about LeBron James and Dwyane Wade retiring to develop into stars on the Olympics.
“They knew earlier than the tweet got here out when James left. KD was again. They had been all within the Olympics. That they had simply received the gold medal. James was there, KD was there, Russ was there.
“We went into coaching camp, and KD was like, ‘We’ll lose James… Bron, D-Wade, all of them mentioned he wants his personal workforce…’
“Then abruptly, contract negotiations began and I yelled to James and he mentioned, ‘I need Max! I need to be a franchise man!'”
It is simple to say with hindsight that the Thunder made a mistake, however the circumstances on the time are additionally vital.
James Harden excelled for the Thunder, coming off the bench because the sixth man for a lot of the 2011-2012 season and even profitable the Sixth Man of the 12 months award.
On the time of his departure, there have been rumors that Harden not wished to simply accept a bench function, and the Thunder couldn’t assure him a beginning function.
In the long run, the choice to depart the Thunder proved to be Harden’s, and he went on to develop into a celebrity and MVP with the Houston Rockets.
