Former NBA champion Kendrick Perkins was convinced the OKC Thunder wouldn’t win a championship due to a lack of chemistry between KD and Russ.
One of the most promising franchises in the early 2010s, the OKC Thunder boasted some of the best talents in the league. The pack involved Kevin Durant , Russell Westbrook , James Harden , Kendrick Perkins, and Serge Ibaka , among the other quality players on the roster.
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.