The last decade saw the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder as a legitimate contender for an NBA Championship.
Players like James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook are forever etched in the organization’s history. Regardless of the circumstances under which they left, they will forever be responsible for the success that Oklahoma City enjoyed during the past decade, as well as the direction in which the organization is currently heading.
So with all the players that have put on an Oklahoma City Jersey Thunder jersey in the last ten years, which one was the top player of the decade?
Hoops Hype has a valid, and likely controversial, choice: Kevin Durant.
Why Durant over Russell Westbrook? Bryan Kalbrosky explains.
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Westbrook’s contributions to the Thunder certainly warrant an honorable mention. He was an eight-time All-Star Selection, two-time scoring champion, and league MVP during his time in Oklahoma City. He was the face of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the better part of a decade.
The way in which Durant left has gone a long way to overshadow what he was able to accomplish with the Thunder. And recent comments haven’t won him any more fans in Oklahoma City. But his importance to the organization’s overall success during the last decade just can’t be overlooked.