They had already locked down both Durant and Westbrook to max contracts. Due to this, they were left with two options, sign either Ibaka or Harden, or pay a huge luxury tax. The Thunder didn’t want to pay it. This had a lot to do with the new penalties launched in the NBA for exceeding luxury tax.
Also, When did Durant leave OKC?
Durant leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in 2016 was one of those times. Durant had been with the Thunder for eight seasons and him leaving was seen as a betrayal — or worse.
Similarly, How many years did harden play with OKC?
Harden and Durant played together on the Thunder from 2009-12, a three-year span in which Oklahoma City rose from the depths of the draft lottery to an NBA Finals appearance. Harden came off the bench during that time and was named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2011-12.
and Why does harden want to leave? Harden’s desire to leave the Rockets is all about putting himself in position to compete for a championship. … Harden can become a free agent in 2022 if he opts out of the final year of his contract — and sources said Brooklyn represents a two-year play to win a title before deciding on the next steps in his career.
How many 30 point games does James Harden have?
James Harden has 301 games played with 30+ points.
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What did Kevin Durant say about OKC?
“In OKC, I played with a lot of athletes. I didn’t play with a lot of skill guys, not like shooters [and] ball-handlers,” Durant said while appearing on the “All the Smoke” podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. “So after a while, my game started to grow and I was like, ‘I need a change.
Who is leaving the Thunder?
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the pleasant surprises of the 2019-20 NBA season, but the fond feelings are fading already. Following a first-round exit, the team has decided to part ways with head coach Billy Donovan, presumably kicking off a downturn/rebuilding period once the team moves on from veteran talent.
Are Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant friends?
Former Thunder Guard Anthony Morrow says Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook may not be the best friends, but they are like brothers. … Durant felt that that most of his teammates on the Thunder should want him to be happy; after all, they did just spend eight years growing up together in the NBA.
Why does James Harden wear 13?
James Harden has been wearing 13 on the back of his jersey since high school, when he attended Artesia. … This is of course in reference to Harden gifting Lil Baby honey buns and a Rolex on the latter’s birthday. Shams Charania had broke the news on January 14th that James Haden would be wearing #13 for the Nets.
Did Harden and KD play together?
Just 32.6 points per game — fourth in the league in playoff scoring so far — on outrageous 54.6/50.0/91.5 shooting splits. Put the regular season and playoffs together and the Nets are 10-3 in the 13 games Irving, Harden, and Durant have played together. They’re also just starting.
Is James Harden injury?
Harden suffered a right hamstring injury on a drive to the basket 43 seconds into Game 1. The Nets called a timeout, Harden left the game and did not return. Harden underwent an MRI, which reportedly revealed no structural damage. “I’m heartbroken for him,” Nash said of Harden after the game.
Is James Harden left hand?
1 – James Harden
James Harden, A.K.A. … Harden averaged a ridiculous 34 points per game for the Rockets in the 2019-20 season and has led the entire league in scoring for the past three seasons. Harden is already atop the best left-handed scorers, and only recently seems to have hit his prime.
Who has the most 30-point games in NBA history?
NBA legend Michael Jordan holds the record for the most 30-point games in the league’s history. He played in a staggering 562 games in which he scored at least 30 points.. Considering the fact that Michael Jordan played only 179 playoff matches, his overall record seems more impressive.
Who has the most 60 point games?
Only six players have scored 60 or more points on more than one occasion: Wilt Chamberlain (32 times), Kobe Bryant (6 times), Michael Jordan (5 times), Elgin Baylor (4 times), James Harden (4 times), and Damian Lillard (3 times).
Who has the most 40 point games in a row?
Wilt Chamberlain had the most games with 40+ points, with 271 games.
Is KD coming back to OKC?
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant doesn’t have plans to return to Oklahoma City when his career is over. Durant said he’ll “never be attached to that city again” during a wide-ranging interview with J.R. Moehringer of the Wall Street Journal. That was far from the only contentious thing Durant said during the interview.
Will KD ever go back to OKC?
Kevin Durant has not been back to the Bay Area since June, when he left the Warriors and signed with the Nets on a four-year, $164 million max contract. The two-time NBA champion and back-to-back Finals MVP is unsure when he’ll return again, but the possibility is there. A return to Oklahoma City is not in the cards.
Did cp3 leave Thunder?
Last offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns. After the Thunder got paid by the Houston Rockets to take on Chris Paul prior to the 2019-20 season, he thrived in Oklahoma City as his trade value jumped significantly.
Are Russ and KD still friends?
Well, according to Kevin Durant, the two are still friends. Last year, Durant said that he and Russell don’t happen to talk, but that they are friends nontheless. He continued by saying that the whole feud was invented by the media (fake drama) and that they never hated each other.
Who is Russell Westbrook friends with?
Russell Westbrook’s friend, Khelcey Barrs, died in May 2004, during a pickup game. The inseparable pair were engaged in the routine pickup game alongside other teammates at L.A. Southwest College when Barrs suddenly slumped on the court.
Are James Harden and Kevin Durant friends?
Durant and Harden have history. The two are good friends and even better teammates.
Is Harden better than Curry?
Steph Curry is a three-time NBA Champion and two-time MVP. … “I got James Harden ahead of Steph Curry all-time. I’ll take Harden any day or night as an all-around better basketball player. As a scorer and distributor, he’s just better than Steph,” Bayless said to his partner Shannon Sharpe on the air on Tuseday.
Who wears 13 for the Nets?
All Players
| NO | Player | POS |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | K. Durant Nets’ Kevin Durant: To sign four-year extension Kevin Durant Nets’ Kevin Durant: To sign four-year extension | PF |
| — | K. Edwards Kessler Edwards | SF |
| 2 | B. Griffin Blake Griffin | PF |
| 13 | J. Harden James Harden | SG |
How do NBA players choose numbers?
The NBA only allows two digit numbers on the back of their Jersey. The NBA only allows numbers which have two digits. For instance you can have 00 however, you cannot have 000. Therefore, the numbers which NBA players can choose from are 00-99 (with the exception of number 69).
