The breakup of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s young and talented trio—James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Russell Westbrook—remains one of the most debated moments in NBA history. While the official narrative centers around the inability to reach a contract extension with Harden, a new and controversial angle has emerged, suggesting that Team USA’s influence during the 2012 Olympics played a pivotal role in Harden’s desire to leave and establish his own team.
Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player who shared the locker room with Harden, Durant, and Westbrook, recently shed light on this lesser-known aspect during his appearance on the “Road Trippin'” podcast with Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, and Allie Clifton. Perkins, known for his candid takes, revealed that the seeds of Harden’s departure were sown during the Olympics, where he played alongside NBA legends like LeBron James and Chris Paul.
“I remember having this conversation with KD after the Olympics,” Perkins recalled. “James, Russ, and KD had just returned from winning the gold. KD said, ‘Man, we’re about to lose James, and it’s not about the money.’ I was confused, so I asked him what he meant. KD explained, ‘During the Olympics, ‘Bron, CP3, and all those guys were telling James, ‘Bro, you’re too nice to be coming off the bench. You’re a number one option. You need to have your own team.'”
Kendrick Perkins says players on the 2012 Olympic team were the reason the OKC Thunder broke up pic.twitter.com/ZQV64VwYWX
— 2Cool2Blog (@2Cool2Blog) August 12, 2024
This revelation from Perkins has reignited the debate over the breakup of the Thunder’s young core. At the time, James Harden was emerging as one of the league’s premier sixth men, having just won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2012. However, the allure of being a franchise player, coupled with the encouragement from some of the NBA’s biggest stars, might have played a significant role in Harden’s decision to seek greener pastures.
One small correction in Perkins’ account is that Dwyane Wade, one of the players Perkins mentioned, was not part of the 2012 Team USA roster. Despite this minor error, the essence of Perkins’ story rings true and adds a layer of complexity to the narrative surrounding Harden’s departure.
In the offseason following the Olympics, Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets after failing to reach a contract extension with the Thunder. This move would go on to define Harden’s career, as he transformed into one of the most prolific scorers and playmakers in NBA history. Over his eight and a half seasons in Houston, James Harden won the 2018 NBA MVP award, led the league in scoring three times, and carried the Rockets to the playoffs every year, including two trips to the Western Conference Finals.
However, the question remains: Did Team USA’s Olympic influence plant the idea in Harden’s mind that he was destined for more than a sixth-man role? And if so, did this lead to the breakup of what could have been one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history?
Harden’s own reflections on the trade add another layer of emotion to the story. In a 2017 interview with Time Magazine, Harden revealed how difficult it was to leave Oklahoma City. “I was almost in tears,” James Harden admitted. “Me and Russell knew each other from when we played at the Boys and Girls Club together as kids. Me and Kevin hung out like every day. We were young, we hung out, we were really, really good friends.”
Despite the emotional toll, Harden acknowledged that the trade to Houston was ultimately “the best thing that ever happened to me,” allowing him to reach his full potential and establish himself as one of the NBA’s elite players.
Fast forward to today, and Harden’s journey has been anything but stable. After demanding trades from Houston, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia, Harden is now with his fourth team in five years, the LA Clippers, where he is set to team up with Kawhi Leonard. As he continues to seek success in the latter stages of his career, the influence of that fateful summer in 2012 lingers as a critical turning point in his basketball journey.
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