What about when the lakers and Celtics are playing in the 80s? No complaints those 2 playing all the time. Or when the bulls were going to 6 finals in the 90s. It seems like selective points being made.
As this is my favorite team, i feel like the story about that thunder era is told a bit wrong, about how they failed to win each year, but in reality after 2012, from 2013-2015 there was always a significant injury, between russ kd and ibaka, that stopped them from having a fair chance
Everyone knows about the I juries it applies to alot of other teams as well. The clippers with CP3 and Blake getting hurt multiple times, the bulls loosing rose and eventually Noah, Kawhi getting hurt on the Spurs, even Danny Granger getting hurt
Fr 2016 was supposed to be that comeback year, yet after dominating as the underdogs, the first time in their playoff history were the favorite and chocked because of it. If Okc didn't have a 3-1 lead, I think they won the series. It was them letting go of the gas that led them to lose the series.
@@randomperson2540 they lost because KD and Russ started ball hogging, instead of moving the ball around, and making warriors have to guess who will score or catch and shoot or slash, and there are rumors KD purposely threw the series because he started playing weird, and NBA leaked the tickets before the series ended with cavs vs gsw again for 2016, I don't believe it, and those are speculations, but the last part about NBA leaking it is true
@@theonlygoodonehere2259xactly! For 3 quarters okc was the better team and then the you turn/my turn inefficiency dance would start. Well, to be fair, if Klay didn't have that historical game 6, okc would have won
2004 is my fav just bc of how big of favs the Lakers were and my Pistons just ran thru em in 5, god I miss the Pistons being good….. 2016 was a great one tho fasho
I kinda of think of the Russ-KD Okc era as like a BETTER version of the Clippers. Got deeper in the playoffs than the lob city Clippers but always fell short for whatever reason to win the whole thing.
Kd carried team. By playoffs elite teams know put good defender on kd...put big defender on russ and sag off. This closes kds space. Not hard beat them
@@xavierb9061Lol basketball is not that easy and the Thunder were very hard to beat as evidenced by them making the Finals and WCF every year. Russ would just blow by bigger defenders and KD doesn’t need space to get his shot off he got a 7’6 wingspan
As a die hard thunder fan. I absolutely HATE watching videos about this topic. But it is apart if our history. On another note: This new young roster looks promising !
2 things..I think that series really wore out the Warriors, the size the speed and length having to come back from 3-1 and I think...people will call me a conspriracy thoerist..Lebron was winning that series..."Get one for the land"
I think the team will be great BECAUSE of what happened in 2016. I think Presti learned some very valuable lessons in building a championship contender starting in 2007 and culminating in the best team we had in 2016 (debateabl ik bc of the 2012 team, but I see the 2016 team as slightly better). I think he learned how to build a great team, how to sustain a great team, and hopefully he learned from what went wrong with that team. This knowledge that I believe Presti now has will be the key to OKC's success from the mid 2020's to 30's. Hopefully all this talent and potential is able to come to fruition.
The talk around the league was that while GS was the most complete team in terms of playing team basketball, and while Cleveland had the best player, OKC was the most talented roster in the league. I hate that context in conversations like that get lost to time
Spurs were my favorite team in the west at that time, still kinda are now, and I knew they were losing to OKC, team was slow, old and on their last legs, and signed older LMA, and Kawhi wasn't a superstar guy yet and didn't know how to takeover, so I knew it would be okc vs gsw, the only surprise I didn't see coming was thunder leading with an obliterating 3-1 lead, with back2back 24+ wins, but people like to change narratives up to fit their claim, no one saw okc as another failure team, they saw gsw, okc, sas going to the finals vs only cavs
It’s not just the thunder it’s the entire season and mostly Playoffs that still have shockwaves to this day, it’s honestly incredible that a single season can have such an impact on sport, the Thunder blowing a 3-1 lead before it was as common as it is today leading to KD leaving and then not only that Golden State blowing their own 3-1 lead in the finals allowing KD to join but something that isn’t really mentioned that also fell into place allowing for that warriors superteam is the new tv deal at the time which was a 9 year 27 billion dollar deal, then the NBPA forcing all that new cash flow to go in at once which allowed Golden state to sign KD, so much resulted from that.
I watched many of their games, and its cause they kind of played old school, I always thought billy donovan was a good coach, and he looked serious when camera's were cut towards him, they gave KD proper off ball screening plays, and he gave russ the proper ways to use his speed to his advantage, and he always made sure to attack the paint, because NBA teams wouldn't see it coming, since 3 point shooting was all they cared about heading into that time, and proper utilization of big men, if okc won, I truly believe basketball style would have went back to normal, that okc team was our last hope, and now its gone
That’s why they lost and I said it from the beginning of that season it was gonna happen. All they had was Russ and Kd so when people blame them for this I don’t agree. I feel like management had 8 years and their team got worse since 2012. So when Kd left I couldn’t be mad it was 8 years. Basically a decade given.
@@Marcus-xu7hnthe best they built that team was in 2013 when they had shooters like thafo and Kevin Martin but couldn’t bring those guys back also Westbrook got injured against Houston
2016 for me was one of my favorite years of my life. As a thunder fan, I had never been so excited over this team and then so heartbroken when they blew their 3-1 lead. And when I saw this video, I said “Oh no, I hate remembering this teams series vs GS” 😂
Loved this team back then. This was the only season in which KD and Russ were superstars on the same team and were on the cusp of becoming one of the greatest teams in nba history had they beaten the warriors. They’re legacies would’ve been extremely different if they ended up winning the chip that season
JT and JB are looking to be the new version of Russ and KD - drafted in back to back years as top 5 picks - developed into superstars/stars - early playoff success resulting in multiple conference finals runs - only one final appearance - consistent failing to reach the finals/win a title - one half of the duo leaves in free agency/gets traded??? (Personally believe that Jaylen brown will request a trade after the Celtics fall short in the playoffs again next year)
Incredible vid man.. This is my squad, and living in Oklahoma it just hits more. I love this team and the way it is managed by Sam Presti, but they have so many moments that shakes up the league.. A lot of "What Ifs" surrounding them.
The 2015-16 OKC is my favorite basketball team I’ve ever watched. It never really hit me until just now that they were 1 win away from going to the Finals for a second time. Beating the 67 win Spurs, the 73-9 Warriors, and facing the Cavs in the Finals would have been one of the greatest playoff runs of all time, who knows who would have one. OKC absolutely dominated Golden State for 2 games to take that 3-1 lead but when it slipped away the KD/Russ finals window was forever closed. I loved how Russ played after KD left, winning the MVP, breaking insane records while averaging a triple double for multiple seasons was awesome, but I will always wish KD stayed. Him and Russ were at the top of their games and KD leaving changed NBA history more than almost any move ever has
I genuinely think making offseason tweaks and running it back could’ve done the trick. That golden state team was SHOOK after losing that finals. They were so shook that they had to get KD to join them. Imagine if they had just added more depth in the offseason, another reliable scorer and a shooter or 2, who could play defense? That wild fit right into their system. KD was just a bitch.
Great video! I remember watching the thunder dismantle the spurs and the looks on the Warriors faces as they were getting blown out and going down 3-1. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get one more win for the league. But on a side note this video shows how special Russ was as a player back then. When ppl describe him they say alm he does is avg a triple double. But he was a part of a duo they went your turn my turn against the best teams of the decade. Do you even understand how hard that is in the NBA? He was supremely talented and top 5 player at that point. It’s a shame Sam presti couldn’t find better help to add to their greatness in time.
This is why he's referred to as Larry legend! By the way he won those three MVPs in a row with a bad back. He injured his back in 1984 while shoveling snow for his mom. So he had a chronic back injury that point forward.
Whats crazy is that team had next to no spacing outside KD. Russ was decent mid range guy and so was Dion Waiters but outside of that no one could shoot.
GSW v OKC 2016 was an insane series and was so damn glad I caught it. as good as we were the following years i kinda fell out of watching but, goddamn, were those two mostly organic powerhouses a clash to see.
Dude I absolutely loved this video considering I took a hiatus from the NBA around this period so missed 14-17. Id love to see a video like this for Melo to put some respect on his name after he lost to Kobe in 2009. In 09 we really could have Melo vs Bron in Finals. Instead we got Kobe vs Dwight.
Bro swish my favorite team is OKC and you brought some bad memories with this video that season after 3-1 up i thought we going to the finals and hurt even more after kd leaving but we have shai now 🤷🏻♂️
After game 7 of that series, something inside of me died lmao. I was an OKC fan since 2008 or so. KD was my favorite player for 8 years, then when he moved to the Warrios, I lost so much respect for him. I wish no ill will on him, and I'm glad he won two rings, but that still hurt.
As an OKC fan I’ve moved on from this and have no resentment towards KD. He was a free agent and did what he wanted. But I can’t lie apart of me feels like he screwed us lowkey. Waited till free agency was damn near over to make his decision which didn’t allow okc to rebound correctly and sign other players. Also I remember KD saying how he was interested in playing with the warriors, he was actually in contact with them during that series, so that makes me believe he was already mentally gone before he physically left us. I do look at him differently because after blowing a lead like that, you would have a bad taste in your mouth and wanna get that get back and come back ever better but I guess he’s different.
The way KD played in those last couple of games with OKC made me stop looking at him as a guy that can get it done. But maybe he would next year. Then he goes to the Warriors and I knew in my heart he isn’t that guy for real.
Man I’m from Cleveland Ohio but KD and Russ my favorite players lol I remember all year I was arguing with everyone saying okc would give the 73-9 warriors a run for they money and the whole Cleveland looked at me crazy till we was up 3-1 of course cavs ended up beating the warriors lol.
As a warriors fan. OKC should of beat the warriors in 5-6 games AND won the chip. Cavs/Thunder finals would of being a classic. KD VS Lebron. Westbrook VS Kyrie. Oh boy!!!!
I really wish this team won the finals that year as I was rooting for them the entire playoffs, Russ & KD were my favorite duo as a kid & it hurt me as a Bulls fan to watch them blow that 3-1 lead
When you think about it that 2016 OKC team had a starting five that consisted of players homegrown and produced straight out of the draft, to me that is next level team scouting and player development. OKC had drafted the starting line up to fit KD and Russ, the balance of Vets in KD Russ and Ibaka and then young crucial role players in Andre Roberson and Steven Adams, they had also signed important pieces in Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter the previous season, Though what I they lacked tho to get them over the hump was a solid 3rd player like a James Harden (of course speaking back when he was coming off the bench role) leading the 2nd unit holding down leads when KD and Russ needed a breather, then when you played all 3 of them together they had an uncanny ability to play “your turn my turn” ISO ball so effectively together playing off one another in the half court or getting easy baskets in transition. That team had so much potential to be great if KD stayed, But they were never the same after, and I guess trading away a future mvp, unfortunate injuries, and running into the greatest team ever doesn’t help either lol
I saw this team in the playoffs against the Mavs that year and they were so well put together, they meshed so well together. I wish KD would’ve had the heart to keep it together, I don’t think it’s about him leaving it’s how he did it after such a good year.
I bull shit u not. The day KD went to the warriors I told my little cousin . "Russ is about to go win the MVP" that was months before the next season even started . I did not expect a triple double average but I watched this team so much that I just thought ... Oh russ is about to go crazy now that KD is gon. He gotta prove he don't need him .
@@marshallchristopher1304bro the thunder were ass in 2017 not even the same team as the 2016 thunder that made the WCF also Paul George and melo were garbage in the elimination game against Utah, losing against Portland in 2019 was inexcusable
Loved rewatching these OKC teams but in reality their roster construction was very flawed(horrible spacing) and even then, if KD stays I don’t see them winning past 2017
problem is, them switching for other guys takes away from their defense, and paint mashing and slashing, if they got rid of that, teams would have taken advantage
KD actually took every shots rushly and tough when it isn't necessary, while Russ was leading them in every way, rebounding, setting his teammates to invlove the offense better, making big shots when the momentum is going to swift to gsw. 2016 was simply one of the worst playoffs to kd career. And Russ literally played like a true leader.
It’s crazy how at that time or around that time 2014 KD was the love one and bron was the villian now kd just been the villian for a min cause of one move
The irony for KD is that his rings with the Warriors and finals MVP's feels like the most irrelevant amongst any superstar in NBA's history. He added very little to an already great Warriors team.
It was interesting to hear that had KD stayed it was likely the organization was going to trade for Oladipo and sign Al Horford as a free agent(i know he won a national title with Billy Donovan) It's interesting to ponder a "what if" right? A Thunder starting five of: Adams, Horford, Durant, Oladipo, and Westbrook? That seems pretty formidable but does anyone believe Coach Donovan could have made them into a championship team? I don't have that sort of confidence in college coaches coming to the nba. I think maybe Larry Brown might be the only truly successful college to pro head coach(did Larry Brown also win a national championship as a head coach?) I'm a Lakers fan but man did i love watching Thunder basketball. The Durant/Westbrook duo was electric!! I always wondered if they could have developed KD, Russ, and James as a starting trio, with a different head coach? Nothing against Coach Scotty Brooks because they really played hard for him but he just never seemed like a great x's and o's coach. I think i actually liked watching them more without Harden because i got to see more of the KD/Russ dynamic but there was no doubt about how talented Harden was, even in a reserve role. Clearly they were not as dangerous without his consistent scoring. Very sad to think that the OKC Thunder allowed 3 first ballot hall of fame level players to leave their organization(one or two of them would not be first ballot selections had they stayed together....only KD would have been first ballot in my view) With The Spurs, Clippers, and Warriors in the west at that time, it was unlikely The Thunder would have ever dominanted the western conference. Don't forget how good The Grizzlies were as well. Thumbs up to KD, Russ, and Harden!! 3 fantastic basketball players who should have gotten a chance to play 10 seasons together like Steph, Klay, and Dray.
Swish the only other person besides myself that Ive heard say that OKC team would have won it all. I picked em that yeR… luckily i wasnt gambling yet 😂
If that okc team won the chip I would've argued it was one of the greatest teams of all time. This would've been the first in history to beat to 65+ win teams. And they were cable of doing so they just sold
I personally think if they met cavs in the finals, cavs would have gave them the most trouble if they beat gsw in lets say 6, it would have been 7 games, but it goes either way
this team is one of the pivotal moments in nba history but I’d much rather see what would’ve happened had KD stayed, that cavs gsw era was entertaining none the less but if felt like a never ending cycle
I believe KD would've never left OKC if they won in 2016 or at least made the Finals and lost to the Cavs. He would be willing to stay and win "the hard way" and he would be way more respected and loved. I'm saying this as a Dubs fan. Legacies of multiple HOF's would be altered like Curry's, LeBron's, KD's, Westbrook's, and others.
I still think he leaves if they lose in the finals, it would be championship or bust, and seeing how KD is now, he made a smart choice leaving, because I always thought KD can win if he left russ, but I was kind of wrong, he played with kyrie and dbook and still lost, he played with curry won, but that team wasn't just curry, draymond was very important and klay was consistent in his catch and shoot, but I don't think KD wins with anyone else other than gsw, sure 2016 russ was crazy, and one of the best I have seen but... flaws in both guys game
@@theonlygoodonehere2259To be fair. Kyrie wasn’t there when needed and this union with book just started. It’s hard to win anything with 2-4 weeks to prep before the playoffs.
@@Marcus-xu7hn I mean I could say the same for clippers in 2020, but no one gives them a pass, right? there's other teams that suffered quite a bit similar to nets and got slandered, phoenix I might give them a pass
That old OKC team in 2016 was just a vibe. Life, and really the NBA as a whole, was so nostalgic back then
2012 with harden was a different breed, they literally could have won a championship if he didn't get traded!
2k15 with KD as the cover. MEMORIES
@@NowayTino fax bruh the nba world loved kd so much back then too. Dude got no hate
Nfs miss dese days
Bro should of phrased it the NBA and life as a whole. Imma get ratio'd fr but Ball isn't life nor is it bigger than life
Just imagine if kd had the motivation and the mental toughness to run it back in 2017 lol it wouldve saved the league and nba fans so much misery
How sign to another team other than the warriors
ngl it wasn't even bad during those years plenty of good basketball was played in the league
@@tahjairrelevant basketball when it was the same 2 teams 6 years straight and after KD joined it was 1 team that mattered
What about when the lakers and Celtics are playing in the 80s? No complaints those 2 playing all the time. Or when the bulls were going to 6 finals in the 90s. It seems like selective points being made.
the circumstances that caused this eludes warranted hate
As this is my favorite team, i feel like the story about that thunder era is told a bit wrong, about how they failed to win each year, but in reality after 2012, from 2013-2015 there was always a significant injury, between russ kd and ibaka, that stopped them from having a fair chance
Everyone knows about the I juries it applies to alot of other teams as well. The clippers with CP3 and Blake getting hurt multiple times, the bulls loosing rose and eventually Noah, Kawhi getting hurt on the Spurs, even Danny Granger getting hurt
Fr 2016 was supposed to be that comeback year, yet after dominating as the underdogs, the first time in their playoff history were the favorite and chocked because of it.
If Okc didn't have a 3-1 lead, I think they won the series. It was them letting go of the gas that led them to lose the series.
@@randomperson2540 they lost because KD and Russ started ball hogging, instead of moving the ball around, and making warriors have to guess who will score or catch and shoot or slash, and there are rumors KD purposely threw the series because he started playing weird, and NBA leaked the tickets before the series ended with cavs vs gsw again for 2016, I don't believe it, and those are speculations, but the last part about NBA leaking it is true
@@theonlygoodonehere2259 hm
@@theonlygoodonehere2259xactly! For 3 quarters okc was the better team and then the you turn/my turn inefficiency dance would start.
Well, to be fair, if Klay didn't have that historical game 6, okc would have won
The 2016 season was the greatest season I’ve seen by a mile. So many storylines, nothing comes close
2004 is my fav just bc of how big of favs the Lakers were and my Pistons just ran thru em in 5, god I miss the Pistons being good….. 2016 was a great one tho fasho
I kinda of think of the Russ-KD Okc era as like a BETTER version of the Clippers. Got deeper in the playoffs than the lob city Clippers but always fell short for whatever reason to win the whole thing.
I assume you're referencing the lob city clippers right? because I agree
Kd carried team. By playoffs elite teams know put good defender on kd...put big defender on russ and sag off. This closes kds space. Not hard beat them
They reminded me of the Shaq and Penny Magic, that were too young to win but too physically talented not to get there.
@@xavierb9061Lol basketball is not that easy and the Thunder were very hard to beat as evidenced by them making the Finals and WCF every year. Russ would just blow by bigger defenders and KD doesn’t need space to get his shot off he got a 7’6 wingspan
As a die hard thunder fan. I absolutely HATE watching videos about this topic. But it is apart if our history.
On another note: This new young roster looks promising !
2 things..I think that series really wore out the Warriors, the size the speed and length having to come back from 3-1 and I think...people will call me a conspriracy thoerist..Lebron was winning that series..."Get one for the land"
As a thunder fan, everytime I see a video like this, im like here we go again 😭
I think after everything this franchise has gone through since going to Oklahoma… It’s starting to feel really good to be an OKC fan again.
I think the team will be great BECAUSE of what happened in 2016. I think Presti learned some very valuable lessons in building a championship contender starting in 2007 and culminating in the best team we had in 2016 (debateabl ik bc of the 2012 team, but I see the 2016 team as slightly better). I think he learned how to build a great team, how to sustain a great team, and hopefully he learned from what went wrong with that team. This knowledge that I believe Presti now has will be the key to OKC's success from the mid 2020's to 30's. Hopefully all this talent and potential is able to come to fruition.
@@SpecOpsCM and you all deserve to stay forever tanking... BRING BACK THE SUPERSONICS YOU THIEVES
The talk around the league was that while GS was the most complete team in terms of playing team basketball, and while Cleveland had the best player, OKC was the most talented roster in the league. I hate that context in conversations like that get lost to time
Spurs were my favorite team in the west at that time, still kinda are now, and I knew they were losing to OKC, team was slow, old and on their last legs, and signed older LMA, and Kawhi wasn't a superstar guy yet and didn't know how to takeover, so I knew it would be okc vs gsw, the only surprise I didn't see coming was thunder leading with an obliterating 3-1 lead, with back2back 24+ wins, but people like to change narratives up to fit their claim, no one saw okc as another failure team, they saw gsw, okc, sas going to the finals vs only cavs
Okc was not the most talented
@@tmac731 they had post and paint talent
talented means zip, clippers are the most talented in the league rn they are absolute garbage
@@tmac731 you can say that, but that was widely accepted. I dont agree with you either
As an Okc fan I will be in constant pain forever even after a championship win 🏆
OKC brings so much nostalgia for that early 2010s
It’s not just the thunder it’s the entire season and mostly Playoffs that still have shockwaves to this day, it’s honestly incredible that a single season can have such an impact on sport, the Thunder blowing a 3-1 lead before it was as common as it is today leading to KD leaving and then not only that Golden State blowing their own 3-1 lead in the finals allowing KD to join but something that isn’t really mentioned that also fell into place allowing for that warriors superteam is the new tv deal at the time which was a 9 year 27 billion dollar deal, then the NBPA forcing all that new cash flow to go in at once which allowed Golden state to sign KD, so much resulted from that.
Not that it’s something he ever considered, but Imagine if KD went to Cleveland instead of Golden State.
Am I the only one that believes NBA basketball in 2016 was the best year in the past decade? W video
cmon bruh u know u not the only one who thinks that😂
2016 was the best year for a lot of things, but I will never forget that basketball season or playoffs.
@@nocomment2725fr that shit was insane and so nostalgic bro like baiting lmao
Lol 2016 was the best year by far
@@FaheemAbdulKarim overrated year, I remember the flaws of that year
This is easily one of the most informative NBA videos I have ever seen. Never even considered this topic before.
It surprises me how Okc were actually in games considering how SIMPLE their offense was
I watched many of their games, and its cause they kind of played old school, I always thought billy donovan was a good coach, and he looked serious when camera's were cut towards him, they gave KD proper off ball screening plays, and he gave russ the proper ways to use his speed to his advantage, and he always made sure to attack the paint, because NBA teams wouldn't see it coming, since 3 point shooting was all they cared about heading into that time, and proper utilization of big men, if okc won, I truly believe basketball style would have went back to normal, that okc team was our last hope, and now its gone
That’s why they lost and I said it from the beginning of that season it was gonna happen. All they had was Russ and Kd so when people blame them for this I don’t agree. I feel like management had 8 years and their team got worse since 2012. So when Kd left I couldn’t be mad it was 8 years. Basically a decade given.
@@Marcus-xu7hnthe best they built that team was in 2013 when they had shooters like thafo and Kevin Martin but couldn’t bring those guys back also Westbrook got injured against Houston
Generally the whole 2016 season was so nostalgic now the greatest season ever 😭😢
I remember being in 4th grade knowing my thunder was up 3-1 little did I expect this to happen I was pissed
2016 for me was one of my favorite years of my life. As a thunder fan, I had never been so excited over this team and then so heartbroken when they blew their 3-1 lead.
And when I saw this video, I said “Oh no, I hate remembering this teams series vs GS” 😂
Loved this team back then. This was the only season in which KD and Russ were superstars on the same team and were on the cusp of becoming one of the greatest teams in nba history had they beaten the warriors. They’re legacies would’ve been extremely different if they ended up winning the chip that season
The 2016 Thunder are arguably the greatest rebounding squad of all-time.
Was waiting for one of these again your the GOAT Swish
I loved when they wore the dark blue jerseys during that playoff run
Man, the 2016 playoffs were some of my favorites forsure, and a big part of it is thanks to OKC
I never forget the 2016 OKC Thunder. Still watch those highlights to this day
JT and JB are looking to be the new version of Russ and KD
- drafted in back to back years as top 5 picks
- developed into superstars/stars
- early playoff success resulting in multiple conference finals runs
- only one final appearance
- consistent failing to reach the finals/win a title
- one half of the duo leaves in free agency/gets traded??? (Personally believe that Jaylen brown will request a trade after the Celtics fall short in the playoffs again next year)
This was the team that really got me watching basketball and wanting to learn about the game. Truly made me a fan of the game entirely .
Incredible vid man.. This is my squad, and living in Oklahoma it just hits more. I love this team and the way it is managed by Sam Presti, but they have so many moments that shakes up the league.. A lot of "What Ifs" surrounding them.
We need a part 2, there is so much more aftermath from this OKC team.
The 2015-16 OKC is my favorite basketball team I’ve ever watched. It never really hit me until just now that they were 1 win away from going to the Finals for a second time. Beating the 67 win Spurs, the 73-9 Warriors, and facing the Cavs in the Finals would have been one of the greatest playoff runs of all time, who knows who would have one. OKC absolutely dominated Golden State for 2 games to take that 3-1 lead but when it slipped away the KD/Russ finals window was forever closed. I loved how Russ played after KD left, winning the MVP, breaking insane records while averaging a triple double for multiple seasons was awesome, but I will always wish KD stayed. Him and Russ were at the top of their games and KD leaving changed NBA history more than almost any move ever has
I genuinely think making offseason tweaks and running it back could’ve done the trick. That golden state team was SHOOK after losing that finals. They were so shook that they had to get KD to join them. Imagine if they had just added more depth in the offseason, another reliable scorer and a shooter or 2, who could play defense? That wild fit right into their system. KD was just a bitch.
that shot from russ followed by the dap was the happiest i’ve ever been. then my heart was crushed
Great video! I remember watching the thunder dismantle the spurs and the looks on the Warriors faces as they were getting blown out and going down 3-1. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get one more win for the league. But on a side note this video shows how special Russ was as a player back then. When ppl describe him they say alm he does is avg a triple double. But he was a part of a duo they went your turn my turn against the best teams of the decade. Do you even understand how hard that is in the NBA? He was supremely talented and top 5 player at that point. It’s a shame Sam presti couldn’t find better help to add to their greatness in time.
This is why he's referred to as Larry legend! By the way he won those three MVPs in a row with a bad back. He injured his back in 1984 while shoveling snow for his mom. So he had a chronic back injury that point forward.
Whats crazy is that team had next to no spacing outside KD. Russ was decent mid range guy and so was Dion Waiters but outside of that no one could shoot.
GSW v OKC 2016 was an insane series and was so damn glad I caught it. as good as we were the following years i kinda fell out of watching but, goddamn, were those two mostly organic powerhouses a clash to see.
Being an Oklahoman in 2016 was different. Shout to Shai for bringing some buzz back
This team was my life. Thanks for giving us the best time in basketball, ever! I loved this team so much 😭
Dude I absolutely loved this video considering I took a hiatus from the NBA around this period so missed 14-17.
Id love to see a video like this for Melo to put some respect on his name after he lost to Kobe in 2009.
In 09 we really could have Melo vs Bron in Finals. Instead we got Kobe vs Dwight.
Bro swish my favorite team is OKC and you brought some bad memories with this video that season after 3-1 up i thought we going to the finals and hurt even more after kd leaving but we have shai now 🤷🏻♂️
After game 7 of that series, something inside of me died lmao. I was an OKC fan since 2008 or so. KD was my favorite player for 8 years, then when he moved to the Warrios, I lost so much respect for him. I wish no ill will on him, and I'm glad he won two rings, but that still hurt.
My favorite team back then. KD’s next chapter completely changed the way I view sports.
As a Laker fan I wish we got that version of Russ man.
As an OKC fan I’ve moved on from this and have no resentment towards KD. He was a free agent and did what he wanted. But I can’t lie apart of me feels like he screwed us lowkey. Waited till free agency was damn near over to make his decision which didn’t allow okc to rebound correctly and sign other players. Also I remember KD saying how he was interested in playing with the warriors, he was actually in contact with them during that series, so that makes me believe he was already mentally gone before he physically left us. I do look at him differently because after blowing a lead like that, you would have a bad taste in your mouth and wanna get that get back and come back ever better but I guess he’s different.
He screwed himself, he’s one of the most disrespected players in basketball, as he should be
@@kevinlovehandle7045he screwed Cleveland lebron and irrelevant kevin love😂😂😂
Just seen the title in my notis, and I’m like damn, I forgot about that team. But now it’s time to watch the vid
The way KD played in those last couple of games with OKC made me stop looking at him as a guy that can get it done. But maybe he would next year. Then he goes to the Warriors and I knew in my heart he isn’t that guy for real.
SWISHOUT, you shoukd make a video of the 2012 Thunder with KD, Harden, and Russ! (Great-team)
team was flawed, and west was kind of trash that year
That spurs team was older bjt man they were nice. Timmys last game. Honestly that whole uear was so dope. The finals the playoffs. All of it.
Man I’m from Cleveland Ohio but KD and Russ my favorite players lol I remember all year I was arguing with everyone saying okc would give the 73-9 warriors a run for they money and the whole Cleveland looked at me crazy till we was up 3-1 of course cavs ended up beating the warriors lol.
As a warriors fan. OKC should of beat the warriors in 5-6 games AND won the chip. Cavs/Thunder finals would of being a classic. KD VS Lebron. Westbrook VS Kyrie. Oh boy!!!!
Lebron needed to get one for the land that year.
Lebron was gonna win that year regardless buddy cmon😂
@@packrunnerjohnny Yep just like Miami was gonna win back in 2006 and 2012 just like Kobe in 2010 vs Celtics.
cavs would sweep
@@aaditnoronha5383 not even
Brot Swish's music choice is amazing, shoot me down... 4 your eyez only.... and sing about me, idt in other videos. The background music is just fire
They were THE most fun team to watch back in those days.
Even as a Warriors fan I miss the KD-Russ Okc teams, it’s so nostalgic just thinking back to those times
I really wish this team won the finals that year as I was rooting for them the entire playoffs, Russ & KD were my favorite duo as a kid & it hurt me as a Bulls fan to watch them blow that 3-1 lead
enamoured. great word. skip's vocab bag is deep
When you think about it that 2016 OKC team had a starting five that consisted of players homegrown and produced straight out of the draft, to me that is next level team scouting and player development. OKC had drafted the starting line up to fit KD and Russ, the balance of Vets in KD Russ and Ibaka and then young crucial role players in Andre Roberson and Steven Adams, they had also signed important pieces in Dion Waiters and Enes Kanter the previous season, Though what I they lacked tho to get them over the hump was a solid 3rd player like a James Harden (of course speaking back when he was coming off the bench role) leading the 2nd unit holding down leads when KD and Russ needed a breather, then when you played all 3 of them together they had an uncanny ability to play “your turn my turn” ISO ball so effectively together playing off one another in the half court or getting easy baskets in transition. That team had so much potential to be great if KD stayed, But they were never the same after, and I guess trading away a future mvp, unfortunate injuries, and running into the greatest team ever doesn’t help either lol
i remember going to theseplayoffs makes me wanna cry bruv 😂😢405
This team has Reggie Jackson, Harden, Kevin Martin, Russ and KD. To go w great bigs controlling the middle. Crazy they didnt make another finals
Do the Kyrie Celtics Team next (the team that was supposed to be the next dynasty)
2018-19 thunder is up there with one of the best thunder squads
Great vid this might be the most significant event in my life tbh
WHAT A GREAT VIDEO! Great cover, great idea. Wow brought back memories
2016 OKC should have won it all or atleast got a chance in the finals vs Cleveland.. still breaks my heart till this day
Shoot Me Down in the background so fire
Im from OK. This team was a dream and also a curse.
I saw this team in the playoffs against the Mavs that year and they were so well put together, they meshed so well together. I wish KD would’ve had the heart to keep it together, I don’t think it’s about him leaving it’s how he did it after such a good year.
Would westbrick fall in line even if KD kept it together??
Yoooo the music throughout this vid are bangerssss!
2016 was a lit year for basketball, and OKC was definitely not beating the Cavs that year
Banger video bro loved this one ☝🏾
2016 team was fun to watch. When he joined the warriors i was mad like everyone else. But he felt like it was the right decision
The KD-Russ Thunder is a fun team to watch. Hoping the new OKC will return to its glory days.
Feels like yesterday we was on 2k usin this goated ass team
I bull shit u not. The day KD went to the warriors I told my little cousin . "Russ is about to go win the MVP" that was months before the next season even started . I did not expect a triple double average but I watched this team so much that I just thought ... Oh russ is about to go crazy now that KD is gon. He gotta prove he don't need him .
Thunder needed KD 3 1st round exits with westbrick in 2023 as u know westbrick is a minimum guy and KD still a top 10 player of all time
@@marshallchristopher1304bro the thunder were ass in 2017 not even the same team as the 2016 thunder that made the WCF also Paul George and melo were garbage in the elimination game against Utah, losing against Portland in 2019 was inexcusable
Everyone forgets about this great team
8:40 KD had russ back all of those time until he didn’t..sad to see these two drift
They get at least another finals trip if they kept Harden after 2012. Maybe even a championship. OKC lacked spacing in 2016.
Loved rewatching these OKC teams but in reality their roster construction was very flawed(horrible spacing) and even then, if KD stays I don’t see them winning past 2017
problem is, them switching for other guys takes away from their defense, and paint mashing and slashing, if they got rid of that, teams would have taken advantage
This is great content is it possible to give a list of songs used in the video? There were a ton of good ones.
KD actually took every shots rushly and tough when it isn't necessary, while Russ was leading them in every way, rebounding, setting his teammates to invlove the offense better, making big shots when the momentum is going to swift to gsw. 2016 was simply one of the worst playoffs to kd career. And Russ literally played like a true leader.
I would rather watch KD & Westbrook in OKC in 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 & 2016 again over watching Golden State
It’s crazy how at that time or around that time 2014 KD was the love one and bron was the villian now kd just been the villian for a min cause of one move
I love the lil Wayne instrumental 💜
As an OKC native and Thunder fan this just hurts to watch. Not the losing so much as the "what if".
Irrelevant but 2k was so fire back then bro
swishout is like the Jade to Black of basketball yters
2:38 One Train in the background 🔥🔥
The irony for KD is that his rings with the Warriors and finals MVP's feels like the most irrelevant amongst any superstar in NBA's history. He added very little to an already great Warriors team.
i always loved steven adams face at 2:06
This is easily one of the biggest what ifs in NBA history.
i knew i wasnt the only one who noticed this, majority of major nba events stemmed from this season and team.
Great vid. Made me subscribe.
I wish we got thunder vs cavs, would've been a way better series IMO
The 2015-16 season is one of the greatest seasons ever.
that 1train music in the back just always hitttssssssss 😂😂
0:48 skip called the triple double addiction
This 2016 OKC team need to be a historical team in 2k
It was interesting to hear that had KD stayed it was likely the organization was going to trade for Oladipo and sign Al Horford as a free agent(i know he won a national title with Billy Donovan)
It's interesting to ponder a "what if" right?
A Thunder starting five of: Adams, Horford, Durant, Oladipo, and Westbrook?
That seems pretty formidable but does anyone believe Coach Donovan could have made them into a championship team?
I don't have that sort of confidence in college coaches coming to the nba.
I think maybe Larry Brown might be the only truly successful college to pro head coach(did Larry Brown also win a national championship as a head coach?)
I'm a Lakers fan but man did i love watching Thunder basketball.
The Durant/Westbrook duo was electric!!
I always wondered if they could have developed KD, Russ, and James as a starting trio, with a different head coach?
Nothing against Coach Scotty Brooks because they really played hard for him but he just never seemed like a great x's and o's coach.
I think i actually liked watching them more without Harden because i got to see more of the KD/Russ dynamic but there was no doubt about how talented Harden was, even in a reserve role.
Clearly they were not as dangerous without his consistent scoring.
Very sad to think that the OKC Thunder allowed 3 first ballot hall of fame level players to leave their organization(one or two of them would not be first ballot selections had they stayed together....only KD would have been first ballot in my view)
With The Spurs, Clippers, and Warriors in the west at that time, it was unlikely The Thunder would have ever dominanted the western conference.
Don't forget how good The Grizzlies were as well.
Thumbs up to KD, Russ, and Harden!!
3 fantastic basketball players who should have gotten a chance to play 10 seasons together like Steph, Klay, and Dray.
Swish the only other person besides myself that Ive heard say that OKC team would have won it all. I picked em that yeR… luckily i wasnt gambling yet 😂
If that okc team won the chip I would've argued it was one of the greatest teams of all time.
This would've been the first in history to beat to 65+ win teams.
And they were cable of doing so they just sold
I personally think if they met cavs in the finals, cavs would have gave them the most trouble if they beat gsw in lets say 6, it would have been 7 games, but it goes either way
@@theonlygoodonehere2259 I agree
Such a great video . I started watching basketball when lebron came to LA. I really appreciate deep insight on the leagues history like this .
Background music is a vibe
this team is one of the pivotal moments in nba history but I’d much rather see what would’ve happened had KD stayed, that cavs gsw era was entertaining none the less but if felt like a never ending cycle
I believe KD would've never left OKC if they won in 2016 or at least made the Finals and lost to the Cavs. He would be willing to stay and win "the hard way" and he would be way more respected and loved. I'm saying this as a Dubs fan. Legacies of multiple HOF's would be altered like Curry's, LeBron's, KD's, Westbrook's, and others.
I still think he leaves if they lose in the finals, it would be championship or bust, and seeing how KD is now, he made a smart choice leaving, because I always thought KD can win if he left russ, but I was kind of wrong, he played with kyrie and dbook and still lost, he played with curry won, but that team wasn't just curry, draymond was very important and klay was consistent in his catch and shoot, but I don't think KD wins with anyone else other than gsw, sure 2016 russ was crazy, and one of the best I have seen but... flaws in both guys game
@@theonlygoodonehere2259To be fair. Kyrie wasn’t there when needed and this union with book just started. It’s hard to win anything with 2-4 weeks to prep before the playoffs.
@@theonlygoodonehere2259westbrick played with pg13,melo,oladipo,harden,beal,lebron james,Anthony davis and now kawhi/pg13 again 0 chips
@@Marcus-xu7hn I mean I could say the same for clippers in 2020, but no one gives them a pass, right? there's other teams that suffered quite a bit similar to nets and got slandered, phoenix I might give them a pass
Hands down the best team of the KD Westbrook era