Scott Brooks once called Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook
One of the greatest teams to never win an NBA championship was Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. While Harden was eventually traded, Durant and Westbrook remained a formidable duo. That team never made it Again in the NBA Finals after losing to the Miami Heat in 2012and the team was eventually disbanded.
One of the most outspoken members of that Thunder team in recent years is Kendrick Perkins who was little more than a player on those OKC teams. During a recent appearance on ‘Road Trippin’,’ with Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, Kendrick Perkins recalled a time on those Thunder teams when Scott Brooks cried both of them Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for being too selfish on the court.
“We’re in New York, playing the Brooklyn Nets. I was in Oklahoma City and we lost. KD and Russ, we had 92 shots as a team. KD and Russ took 80 of them,” Perkins said. “Afterward we went into the gym for practice and he (Scott Brooks) told Tabo (Sefolosha) we’re all huddled at half court. Scott Brooks gave the ball to Tabo and he said, ‘Here Tabo, shoot the ball twice.’ Tabo made two shots.”
“He gave the ball to Serge Ibaka. He said, ‘Serge, take one shot.’ Serge shot,” Perkins continued. “He threw me the ball. He said, ‘Perk, hold the fuck up.’ I held him. He said, ‘Rass, KD, we can’t fucking win like this. No one will want to play with you two guys.”
The Thunder drafted Durant when the franchise was still the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007. Westbrook followed in 2008 as the Thunder’s first overall draft pick after that move and name change. Harden would follow in 2009.
With Durant and Westbrook as a duo, the Thunder reached the NBA playoffs six times, including three Western Conference Finals and one NBA Finals. That team would be broken up for good when Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 offseason.
2025-11-13 01:45:00
