Oklahoma City Thunder: Players Who Will Shine Without Kevin Durant

The Oklahoma City Thunder took a significant hit via the loss of superstar small forward Kevin Durant, but some players will benefit from this newfound opportunity to shine.

There aren’t many positives to look at or evaluate when a team loses a player of Kevin Durant‘s caliber. Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, and is one of just four players to win MVP since 2009.

Though the Thunder will take an inevitable hit as a result of his departure, a number of players on the roster could utilize this opportunity to break out and excel.

For the returning star, this is an opportunity to legitimize his status as one of the very best players in the NBA. Though he was respected before, escaping Durant’s shadow could lead to his receiving the respect he deserves.

Beyond the established star is a group of players who will step into significantly larger roles in 2016-17 than they were trusted with in 2015-16.

It must be reiterated that losing Durant is something that will not be easily overcome. If the rest of the roster progresses, however, the Thunder could be a much better team than expected and projected.

The question is, which individual players will have the opportunity to elevate their game without Durant?

Next: The Defensive Ace