Former NBA heart Kendrick Perkins pointed to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as key influences behind the breakup of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s younger core, citing conversations from the 2012 Olympics that he believes swayed James Harden’s choice to hunt a bigger function elsewhere.
Talking on The Zach Lowe Present forward of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s NBA Finals Recreation 1 matchup in opposition to the Indiana Pacers, Perkins shared his perspective on the breakup of the Thunder’s Massive 3 — Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden.
“We may blame LeBron, D-Wade, all these different guys that have been on the 2012 Olympics on why the younger Thunder Massive 3 have been damaged up,” Perkins stated. “As a result of they put into James [Harden’s] head that he wanted to be the person. They usually have been proper although—James did what was finest for James.”
Perkins added that regardless of the eventual break up, he valued being a part of a traditionally gifted group.
“However I’ll say this: in these occasions I bought to see development and I bought to expertise development, and be a part of greatness. Particularly if you have a look at Kevin Durant, when Russell Westbrook went out. His MVP season and what he was doing. How he was taking part in that time ahead.”
Kendrick Perkins blames LeBron and Wade for Thunder Massive 3 breakup that adopted 2012 Finals run
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The 2011–12 Thunder, led by Durant, Westbrook, and Harden, reached the NBA Finals earlier than falling to the Miami Warmth in 5 video games. That Miami group featured James and Wade, who, in line with Perkins, performed a task in convincing Harden of his star potential throughout their time collectively on the Olympic group later that summer time.
Following the 2012 Olympics, the Thunder traded Harden to the Houston Rockets after failing to succeed in a contract extension. The choice ended one of many league’s most promising younger trios, all of whom would go on to win MVP awards individually — Durant in 2014, Westbrook in 2017, and Harden in 2018.
That Oklahoma Metropolis group additionally included Serge Ibaka and Perkins, forming a core that many believed may contend for a number of titles. The breakup stays some of the debated what-if situations in current NBA historical past.
Because the breakup, every participant has constructed a adorned profession. Durant received two championships with the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook turned the primary participant since Oscar Robertson to common a triple-double over a full season. Harden developed into one of many league’s most prolific scorers throughout his time with the Houston Rockets.
The Thunder, now led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will return to the NBA Finals for the primary time since 2012 on Thursday evening at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. They’ll host the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Heart.