Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook starred in what at times was the most thrilling era for the Oklahoma City Thunder. As a franchise that had just relocated from Seattle, the arrival of both—KD wore a Sonic uniform for a day—turned OKC into an electric team with an enduring aura of championship contention. They didn’t win it, but the spark didn’t fade, especially for Durant.
Although the 2014 MVP was heavily criticized for leaving Oklahoma and signing with Golden State, that narrative gradually eased, even in regard to the relationship with Russ, who for years remained a major reference point for OKC.
Now, with the final days approaching before the start of the 2026-27 season, the news is that Durant continues to aspire to the title, this time with the Houston Rockets, while Westbrook recently announced his retirement from professional basketball. What does Kevin think? That there was still a lot of basketball left to play at the highest level.
“When I found out I was a little sad. I think Russ still had 5 or 6 more years ahead. He’s an athletic body that can still positively impact the game. Congratulations to him on an iconic career,” he said to the media.
Kevin Durant, Westbrook, and a Few Memorable Years
For many they fell short by not becoming champions, but for others it is something that, with the passage of time, does not carry as much weight compared to the fact that those were intense and exciting years in front of a duo of MVPs who lifted both their own fans and the rest out of their seats.
Was KD lacking patience? It’s easy to say, but everyone must choose their own path. From 2010 to 2016 they reached five conference finals and the 2012 Finals, when they fell to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat 4-1. It was in that aforementioned 2016 when everything collapsed after wasting a 3-1 lead to the Warriors, the team Durant would join months later. In any case, you can’t take away the memories.
