James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook. These three MVPs were once on the same team. One can only imagine if the three went on to play longer in Oklahoma. Of course, James left OKC and joined the Rockets where he won his MVP award. KD and Russ were still in Oklahoma and Durant would go on to win his MVP in 2014. Brodie got hands on the MVP trophy much later after KD joined the Warriors. The big three scattered around the league and established their own dominance. But were the ever a ‘Big Three’?

Well, they would only be considered a big three if they had consistently teamed up together. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. In the three seasons Harden spent in OKC, the Beard came off the bench. Harden was an excellent sixth man. In fact, he won the 6MOY award in his third season. But one day after pre-season games, when the OKC players had a light practice session, James abruptly left the locker room. While quite a few players knew what was to happen, Perry Jones who was a new member of the Thunder did not.

Jones recalled Harden’s last words as a Thunder in the recent episode of the Run Your Race Podcast. “I just know we had, we got practice one day and it’s a light practice it’s like we ain’t got no contact we ain’t playing one on one today we ain’t doing no fives. Just light shooting no contact all of a sudden it was like hey James come my office, whatever. I’m in the locker room chilling I’m just talking to everybody else or whatever James walk in and was I like ‘Hey what’s up James’ he like ‘It’s woo’. Grabbed some shoes grabbed his keys and walked out. He said ‘It’s woo’ I never heard that before he was like I was like ‘What’s up James’ ‘It’s woo’,” Jones said.

Before Jones could even process it, OKC traded Harden to the Rockets four days before the regular season. But Harden did have a contract extension on the table. Not to mention, a four-year extension worth $55 million. So why did he leave the Thunder? Well, the answer to that would be the 2012 London Olympics. Harden, KD, and Russ, all participated in the 2012 Olympics. And after winning the gold medal, Durant had a feeling that Harden was going to leave the Thunder.

Kendrick Perkins, who at the time was in Oklahoma reflected on how LeBron James and Dwyane Wade influenced Harden’s decision. “KD said ‘Man, we about to lose James and it’s not about the money’. I said ‘Man, what are you talking about?’. He said ‘We about to lose James because when we was over in the Olympics, Bron, D-Wade, all those guys were telling James, bro you too nice bro, to be coming off the bench. You’re a number one option’.”, Perkins recalled. Moreover, Harden did respond to his former team the very next season.

James Harden dropped a 40-bomb on the Oklahoma City Thunder

After Harden’s departure, it wasn’t that the Thunder struggled to get wins. In fact, they were still a considerable playoff contender in the West. On the other hand, Harden joined a franchise that was going to build their roster around him. And he didn’t take much time to prove why he should have been a starter in Oklahoma. That very year, Harden dropped his season-high on his former team. The Beard finished the game with 46 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists while going 7 of 8 from deep.

For James, the first few seasons were quite rough. But eventually, the Rockets became the toughest contenders in the West, making it to the Conference Finals during Harden’s third season as a Rocket. If anything Harden had the most defining years of his career in Houston. Leaving OKC was by far a great decision from James. Harden was built for the starting lineup. But then again, while still young, it was best for the Beard to finally follow his path.

What are your thoughts on James Harden’s OKC exit? Do you think he should have stayed longer? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.