Former Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter remembers more of the heartbreak that was the end of the 2016 season than just blowing the 3-1 lead to the Golden State Warriors.
Kanter, appearing in a video call with Stadium’s Shams Charania, said that if they had won one more game against the Warriors, they would have had a good chance to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I know we could have beat the Cavs. That was the hard part,” Kanter said. “After the game was over, the next day, I’m like, you know what, we had everything (we needed) to go out there and win the championship, we’re just going to get back next year and try to do the same thing.”
Celtics center @EnesKanter told our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania he has been offered WWE deal and plans to accept after career.
Kanter also discussed his public approach with his native Turkey, Russell Westbrook's policy for opponents and more. pic.twitter.com/gOvZhfYGae
— Stadium (@Stadium) May 13, 2020
But the Thunder did not have a legitimate chance to avenge that loss, as star Kevin Durant did not re-sign with the team.
“I was heartbroken when KD left,” Kanter said. “I think if KD didn’t leave, we could’ve won a championship just the next year. I believe that.”
If Durant had remained on the Thunder, they would had to go through a Warriors team that likely would have looked more or less the same as the 73-win rendition.
Both teams would then be looking to make up for the year prior: The Thunder looking to win four against the Warriors, and Golden State trying to get back against the Cavaliers.
If Oklahoma City with Durant had done it, they would have then had a chance to avenge the 2012 Finals, which the team also lost to LeBron James when he was on the Miami Heat.
That’s all hypothetical, though.
Instead, the Warriors won two more championships and the Thunder have overhauled the roster multiple times, adding Carmelo Anthony and Paul George and later trading George and Russell Westbrook to create a new core with Chris Paul, Steven Adams and youngsters as the team continues to fight for its first championship since moving to Oklahoma City.
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