YouWager Sports - Invidious

It still feels unbelievable that Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden never won a championship together with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seeing the three future MVPs on the same roster remains one of the most striking reminders of how unpredictable NBA history can be.

The Thunder assembled the trio in the early 2010s, and their rapid rise culminated in a trip to the 2012 NBA Finals. At the time, all three were young and still refining their games, yet they had already positioned Oklahoma City as a long-term contender. Despite their talent, they fell short against a veteran Miami Heat team.

Kevin Durant was already establishing himself as one of the league’s most efficient scorers. His smooth shooting touch, length, and versatility made him the offensive focal point, and he would later build a résumé that includes MVP honors, scoring titles, and multiple championships.

Russell Westbrook provided the edge and intensity. His explosive athleticism and nonstop motor drove the team’s pace and identity. Over the course of his career, Westbrook would go on to achieve historic statistical milestones, including MVP recognition and multiple triple-double seasons.

James Harden, then a sixth man, showed early signs of greatness with his creativity and scoring instincts. After leaving OKC, he evolved into one of the most dominant offensive forces the NBA has ever seen, winning MVP and reshaping modern offensive strategy.

Looking back, the trio’s short window together makes their story even more fascinating. Contract decisions and timing prevented them from staying together long enough to fully mature as a unit.

Today, the OKC trio stands as one of the NBA’s ultimate “what if” scenarios—a reminder that assembling elite talent is only part of the championship equation, and that timing matters just as much as ability.

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Charles Barkley once joked on Inside the NBA that he would “never join a super team,” before immediately referencing his own decision to join Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets. The comment became a classic moment in sports television because of Barkley’s self-awareness and willingness to laugh at his own past, acknowledging how his actions contradicted his earlier stance.

The remark refers to Barkley’s 1996 trade to the Houston Rockets, where he joined Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, both future Hall of Famers. At the time, Houston was already a proven championship contender, and the trio was widely viewed as a “super team” built to chase another NBA title. Barkley’s later joke resonated because it reflected how even the most outspoken stars sometimes bend their own rules in pursuit of a championship.