James Harden probably regrets nothing about how his career turned out after getting traded away by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012 but speaking hypotheticals, he believes that his time with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook could have brought them multiple titles.
The Thunder was a young team back then that played their cards right from 2007 to 2010. They picked the right players who were perfect for each other, leading them to multiple competitive playoffs.
However, due to salary reasons, they had to break up the Big 3 of KD, Harden, and Brodie. Harden was shipped to the Houston Rockets where he carved out a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
The Beard, now playing for the Los Angeles Clippers, is thankful for his time with OKC but when asked what would have happened if he had stayed there and continued playing with Durant and Westbrook, he said the team would have had 2 titles by now.
“Two chips, at least, at the minimum,” he told the host of Earn Your Leisure podcasts when asked how good their trio could have been.
Before that, he talked about the potential of the young Thunder with their trifecta around.
My second year, we went in Western Conference finals against Dallas. My third year, we in the finals against the [Miami] Heat, that was Bron’s first championship. They won the championship. That summer we went to the Olympics and we won gold.
My fourth year is on. Summer I got traded.
James Harden’s championship chase with KD and Brodie
Between the three of them, only KD has won a championship. He did it twice with the Golden State Warriros where he was also named Finals MVP two times.
Harden and Westbrook are still without one although they tried chasing one by playing together again for the Rockets and then most recently for the Clippers.
The Beard then teamed up with Durant at the Brooklyn Nets in 2021 but he only played one season there before their big three with Kyrie Irving was broken up.
Right now, they are with different teams playing lead roles. There is a chance that they will meet each other in the playoffs as they are all in the Western Conference.
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