Oklahoma City Thunder Quietly Back as One of NBA's Elite

Oklahoma City Thunder Quietly Back as One of NBA’s Elite

Dec 13, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) react after a play against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 28, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) pose for photos during media day at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Talent

The Oklahoma City Thunder could lead the league in passes and assists per game. They could dominate defensively, control the offensive and defensive glass, and score points at a feverish pace.

The reality is, nothing matters more than the fact that OKC has three of the NBA’s best on its roster: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, and Russell Westbrook.

Durant was the easy selection for 2013-14 NBA MVP during one of LeBron James‘ most efficiently dominant seasons. He’s a four-time scoring champion, which is a feat that only Wilt Chamberlain, George Gervin, Allen Iverson, and Michael Jordan had achieved before him.

Westbrook is a walking triple-double threat who, statistically speaking, is nearing Tiny Archibald territory. He was an MVP candidate in 2014-15, is averaging 24.0 points, 9.8 assists, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 2015-16, and is just about as lethal as Durant in the playoffs.

Ibaka is the forgotten star, but his value was established in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Durant and Westbrook were healthy, but without Ibaka, the Thunder were dominated. With him, they won two in a row to even the series.

This trio has been to the NBA Finals before. The question is, what must they do to return?

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