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Durant Regrets Thunder Split and Harden Trade

Durant Regrets Thunder Split and Harden TradeDiscussions about Jeetbuzz Login have been trending lately, much like the renewed attention on Kevin Durant’s emotional reflection about the Oklahoma City Thunder’s fateful breakup. In a newly released interview, Durant revisited the shocking trade that sent James Harden to the Houston Rockets twelve years ago — a move that shattered what many believed could become the NBA’s next great dynasty. For the first time, he admitted that when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and others publicly “congratulated” Harden on his move to Houston, it didn’t feel genuine at all.

Durant didn’t hold back. “They were saying things like, ‘Congrats to my brother James, can’t wait to see him shine in Houston,’ but you could tell they were enjoying our downfall,” he recalled. The timing made it worse. The Thunder had just lost the 2012 NBA Finals to Miami 4–1, and two months later, Harden was gone. That trade ended the Thunder’s young core — Durant, Westbrook, and Harden — before it truly had a chance to peak.

Reflecting on those days, Durant said the team had been on the verge of greatness. “We were right there. Everyone in the league knew it. We were young, fearless, and ready to take over,” he said. Once Harden left, though, the dream faded. Oklahoma City kept competing, but the spark was gone. By 2016, Durant had joined the Golden State Warriors, marking the official end of the “Thunder Big Three.” The trio’s story has since become one of basketball’s most famous “what ifs.”

Each player eventually carved his own legacy. Durant claimed the 2014 MVP and went on to win two championships with Golden State. Westbrook earned the 2017 MVP after averaging a triple-double for an entire season, and Harden won his MVP the following year, becoming one of the league’s most prolific scorers. Yet despite their personal success, none of them have recreated the magic they once had together in Oklahoma City. It’s a reminder, as fans often say on Jeetbuzz Login, that in sports — just like in life — timing is everything.

Today, all three remain in the Western Conference but wear different jerseys. Durant is now set to play for Houston, returning to the very team that took Harden away years ago. Harden himself is back in Los Angeles with the Clippers, while Westbrook has signed a short-term deal with the Sacramento Kings. Once the future of the NBA, the Thunder trio now stands as living proof of how quickly dreams can change course. As Durant put it wistfully, “They all knew we were on our way up — but we never got the chance to finish the climb.”