2012 Oklahoma City Thunder | The Best NBA Teams to Never Win a Title

The early 2010s Oklahoma City Thunder had some of the best teams of the era. The Thunder pulled off the unbelievable feat of drafting MVPs in three consecutive drafts with their selections of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. These three young superstars led OKC from the NBA's cellar all the way to the NBA Finals in only a few seasons. After falling short to Miami in the 2012 Finals, the Thunder made the catastrophic mistake of trading away James Harden. They recovered from this mistake and in 2016 took a 3-1 lead on the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Despite this lead, the Thunder blew their chance to return to the NBA Finals with three consecutive losses. Today we look back on the 2012... AND 2016 Oklahoma City Thunder.
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[@jordanking5067]

The 2012 season was a heartbreaker, but when that plane returned back to OKC, it seemed like every person in Oklahoma was there. My dad took me up to the airport to see them, One of my greatest memories ever.

[@chriswilliams1024]

Imagine the 2012 Thunder vs 2004 Detroit Pistons

[@RJ_824]

​@@chriswilliams1024 could be a 7 game series possibly

[@marecare223]

2016 must be up there for the best NBA season ever

[@cheesygrater]

It is the best season ever. You can’t convince me otherwise

[@Skinslyfe]

@@cheesygrateryou haven’t even been alive for 1/4 of the nba seasons so how would you know

[@vulcanraven9701]

Strongly disagree. The Eastern Conference was just the Cavaliers invitational. Terrible teams all across except one team with 4 all star caliber players. Also Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan were washed up

[@vulcanraven9701]

@@cheesygrater maybe if youre a lebron fan

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@@cheesygrater there are much better seasons than 2016 season, 2016 just had a lot of records being broken

[@manzac112]

The craziest thing about the James Harden trade that happened was that they should have kept Kevin Martin, instead of having an inconsistent point guard platoon with Derek Fisher.

[@christianbaker322]

Your mum

[@mitchconner2021]

They should have kept him and got anyone else who could shoot lol

[@peterakin5793]

Who agrees, this team is the REASON teams "tank" and rebuild. I felt like before this, the surefire way to win championships was to trade for established stars. KG+Pierce and Gasol+Kobe in 2008

[@jubomalseeco3117]

The OKC were definitely the draft/rebuild team that had the quickest turnaround into finals contender to that point and that's really just down to freak drafting effectiveness. Trading for an established star was the quickest way to get into a win now scenario, but whether or not they make the team a contender was kind of inconsistent. With drafting, it would take longer to get a contender, but you could see the trajectory of the team's performance ahead of time.

[@musicandmagic909]

They're not the reason. It's not rocket surgery to figure out how to take advantage of the draft. David Robinson being injured allowed the Spurs to draft Tim Duncan. Do you think they said "let's play our hearts out for the season without our #1 player" or "this is our chance to get a top pick now that our dominant big man is injured"? The Bulls didn't want to play MJ more than 7 minutes a half in order to tank for better draft options. Isiah Thomas was benched so that the Pistons could draft Grant Hill. The first one is my observation, the second one was in The Last Dance, and the third was Isiah Thomas himself saying that that's what happened. This is nothing new.

[@peterakin5793]

​@@musicandmagic909 Sometimes injuries occur and you are lucky to draft top talent. This wasn't teams STRATEGY back then, the 76ers openly copied the Thunder in 2014 by tanking and many teams followed.

[@mrboombastic63]

@@musicandmagic909its not rocket surgery?

[@rgncal4872]

@@musicandmagic909 rocket science bruh 😂😂😂😂

[@acehood5922]

As a thunder fan this videos great but painful to relive again smh

[@anf9311]

6:54 little did we know at the time - that'd turn out to be Kobe's final playoff game. Crazy

[@matteoairaghi790]

As a thunder fan, THAT Klay thompson three pointer is still the most painful thing ever. Every OKC fan knows what i'm talking about

[@andrecambridge4474]

James Harden was in the damn strip clubs during the finals and then disappeared. Huh. That’s not ominous.

[@bomberbcm]

I think 2014 was great too. Crazy point differential and legit had a case for the best team in the league before Russ got hurt by Pat Bev

[@videojameplayer1448]

Never forget, Pat Bev stole our shot at the title that year and the year after

[@theonlygoodonehere2259]

@@videojameplayer1448 2014 not 2013, 2013 thunder with russ would have lost to spurs

[@jand1144]

Time flies i remember those years like yesterday crazy its been 11 year's 💯

[@the_seahawk22]

If they were still in Seattle they would have won #bringbackoursonics #noonelikesOKC

[@vibechecktsundere4912]

Grade A cope. That doesn’t change anything with where they’re at. Seattle wasn’t a FA destination for a long time near the end

[@YankeesLife]

They would have had one championship definitely. Maybe a second one, if they stayed in Seattle there would be no curse

[@edgarsnake2857]

Great, entertaining commentary on one of the big What-ifs. Oh, so close... Everyone knew the Harden thing was a mistake except the OKC brass. No joke: I was in a semi-coma from a car accident/ brain injury at the time they let Harden go. My condition was so bad I was hallucinating and I couldn't find my way around my own house without help. But, I remember lying in bed and hearing the radio report about Harden on Boston sports radio. I said out loud, "That's a mistake."

[@xaevius5319]

damn man. do stuff like hallucinations just solve itself over time? idk much about brain injury and stuff like that, u know psychosis and shit

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

The Thunder didn't win a championship in the 2010s, but they were a very good team. I was very sad when I learned that Kevin Durant was leaving the Thunder for the Warriors in 2016.

[@thephantommarauder7748]

2016 might be the greatest year in sports Super Bowl 50 Peyton Manning won in spectacular style retiring, the NBA had Kobe and Duncan retire in the same sentence probably the most entertaining playoffs of all time. Warriors came back from 3-1 and the Cavs comeback from 3-1 in the NBA finals. Ronaldo won the 2016 Euros with an extremely trash Portugal team and the incredible 2016 Champions League run. It was just pure raw entertainment from start to finish.

[@dryames4319]

Don't forget Leicester City won the premier league too!

[@stacetucker2294]

Don't forget Cubs won World Series, Michael Phelps came back from retirement and won 4 gold and 2 silver in Rio to become the most accomplished Olympic athlete.

[@ChiefBlue4298]

And the Penguins won the Stanley Cup (their 2nd during the Crosby/Malkin era) after starting their season slow

[@marquanmr]

Fuck the cubs​@@stacetucker2294

[@vulcanraven9701]

Hold up. Peyton didnt win in spectacular style. He was bad and the defense carried the team. I'd argue 2023 was much better in just about every sport

[@staidenofanarchy]

I'd love to see a retrospective on Russ's revenge tour

[@benjaminglazer7217]

Don’t ever call Kendrick Perkins good again

[@torianconerly8736]

Exactly! As a Thunder fan...he was especially trash with us 😡

[@thekidfromcleveland3944]

He was good as Blake Griffins Pommel horse

[@hmohngcheelee7549]

I guess you could say in 2012 the league was Thunder Struck.

[@ChiefBlue4298]

And then burned by Heat

[@Daviday330]

u guys are goated keep up the amazing job

[@joshuamoore5510]

I love these videos. All i listen to at work 😂

[@whiteboyeleazar4820]

During break time 😅 😂 love this channel

[@RoyalGuyful]

New to the channel. Took me too long to figure out it was two different people talking 🤣

[@himekomurata72]

With how good your contents are, I thought you were like 100k subs minimum but hope you reach those one day 😁

[@JJ-ui4ph]

Even with as bad as that Harden trade was they still had a chance to become a dynasty. One of the picks they got for Harden became Steven Adams. I like him but realize this. When they drafted Adams both Giannis and Rudy Gobert were still available.

[@MistahJay7]

As a Bron guy I was kind of annoyed that the Thunder were up 3-1 against the Warriors in 2016. I wanted revenge on the Warriors for 2015 lol I was glad that the Warriors were able to come back. Probs the only Time in my life I ever wanted to them to win a series

[@Janon743]

You got the sweetest revenge possible too lol

[@MistahJay7]

@@Janon743 Damn right. Though things were looking pretty bleak after Game 4 lol I was like really all that hype all year just to be down 3-1 now -_-......Then the unthinkable happened.

[@dtrain8530]

I want to go to the timeline where Harden never gets traded, nothing but pain

[@TheFrostbite324]

Don’t forget Stephen Adams was bodying to Spurs on the boards in the WCF

[@JuanGonzalez-lf4bm]

This channel needs more subscribers Fr

[@slimypickle19]

"DEPTH" is the key word of the entire video. It's true, Curry has had the most depth to work with in NBA history, & yet people want to put him above Magic. KD & Russ accomplished a great deal for what they had, & I'm glad you pointed out the injury seasons in 2013 & 2015.

[@jaylock9twenty5]

Like Magic didn’t have Kareem, Worthy, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, and host of other good role players 🙄

[@Will4all85]

Every all time player has had a stacked team at some point

[@potats5916]

This vid ain’t even about curry how u still hating lmao

[@spider-man120]

Lmao, brings up magic when he maybe the most stacked team ever.

[@Dr.J42]

Magic had a GOAT candidate, a two way great with a clutch gene for days, a DPOY of the bench, and a bunch of two way all-time role players.

[@onlyevanromo]

I’d like to see a 2014 Spurs retrospective from you all!

[@gfreshnit]

Damn that Iggy and 1 shot at 16:41, was a crazy display of talent! The added spin of ball, off the backboard, right on cue, all while drawing the foul...!

[@canismkit666]

Imagine if those Three were together when the warriors started their reign of terror.those playoff matchups would have been must see tv.

[@mh-rl4sz]

Could you made video about players who were factor x in finales, like Miller was mention in this video, like Shane Battier 18 points vs Spurs all 3 pointers, or like Lakers Rondo vs heat game Game 6 where he had 19 pts, 4 rebs, 4 asts, and some other facor x players.

[@TheCalvinCoCo]

Seeing how you guys are WWE fans, how bout a wwe/NBA star comparison vid. Who’s the John Cena of the NBA? Lol

[@jubomalseeco3117]

arguable goat with rabid fans and even more rabid detractors? Beloved by the company and casuals but maligned by old heads and die hards? The John Cena of the NBA is LeBron. But I do agree that this is a great concept.

[@gicz9419]

Great episode 🔥

[@thomasas4288]

Y’all should go on an episode of the deep three podcast

[@joesmith8725]

2013, 2015 and 2016 were other chances for them as well.

[@ianfaris4806]

Serge Iblocka is still one of my favourite players like i know he fell off a cliff after he left toronto but i think he would still be a decently efficient rotation guy if he never left and i still wish masai offered him that 2yr contract, but him leaving got us scottie so its fine ig

[@spider-man120]

Crazy stat. The warriors only won one 4th quarter against the thunder that series and it was game 6.

[@clovergraal6685]

Nah bc tell me why I was on the bus this morning think about how the thunder didn’t win a single chip with so much talent 🤔

[@diquandaniel7953]

OKC the 2nd-3rd biggest what if of the last 20 years next to D. Rose injury and Kobe/Shaq staying a team

[@monsterzinc9423]

Honestly I wasn’t watching basketball at the time so I didn’t even know OKC Thunder existed till the finals that year was on 😂

[@xavierjones6687]

🔥 🔥 🔥

[@TheeKingRayzor]

*@Synthetic Sports* Hello guys, What are three NBA documentaries you recommend for news fans?

[@Hauseu]

The current ⛈️ just hit different. My eyes tell me SGA will be elite on a level that rivals the best ever while playing alongside transcendent players that have generational upside. It's time to prove it in the playoffs!

[@scottbrayton9484]

The thing people get wrong about Harden is that he plays really well in the playoffs, he isn't a bad playoff player. He specifically disappears in important playoff scenarios. He will ball out for the first few games of a series before he goes ghost.

[@SpiderGang56]

I have a suggestion for this series, the 2009 Denver Nuggets pls

[@benjonesthe3rd200]

I think after the Elbow from Ron Artest Harden immediately started his changing teams streak like crazy , I think the elbow was basically Antonio Brown’s hit from Pac-Man Jones that started slowly spiraling his career

[@why-km6lo]

It wasn't Pac-Man who hit AB

[@renzoenzo7535]

2017 OKC C - Adams PF - Horford/Sabonis SF - KD SG - Oladipo PG - Russ

[@jaredanderson53]

The 2012 Thunder, the 2018 Rockets, and the 2021 Nets... Harden has been a part of 3 of the best teams to never win a championship. Had he stuck with one of these cores for longer, he would have had a ring.

[@robingronwald7993]

Imagine the hype if they stayed in Seattle

[@YankeesLife]

Rumor has it that Seattle put a curse on the team when they left for OKC. There’s a whole video on it too.

[@Robertgilbert2204]

“Thats a bad role player” 😂😂😂

[@diegoblanco5199]

Please make a video on Barkleys suns

[@TeamFuckSwagg]

I miss playing rogue company 😢

[@lifeonthelake4367]

Ron Artest needs to make a return and tune Harden up a bit.

[@brayancatano136]

Need a podcast ASAP

[@sonicmeansspeed8614]

11:13 man, Kennard’s solid, don’t do him like that.

[@cashmeoutside23]

they didn’t want to trade james but his play suffered in the finals basically disappeared for the last 3 games and the rockets offered what was a strong package at the time. they would have payed more than 8 million because they would have been in the luxury and u lose way more money once you take the chance

[@siner2442]

That’s such a lazy excuse… they could’ve paid they just didn’t want to. They weren’t even willing to sit down with him. They just didn’t like when he said he wanted more playing time and the ball in his hands more often. Team couldn’t been really good with Kd and Harden, if they actually played a little defense!

[@damion1011]

To be fair there was a TON luxury tax implications if they resigned harden. It would have been ALOT more than just 2 million per year

[@emilli0077]

The way okc was beating on golden state, I thought it was over for them 😂😂

[@richardsonpredelus105]

Y’all do the 2011 Bulls

[@urbaindelva7869]

Depth was not the only issue they had. There were always very good on defense, but KD explained that they suffered from a lack of offense outside of himself and Russ, and looking back, he had a point. He and Russ basically carried their offense. They were never a good 3pt shooting team. Both Scott Brooks and Billy Donovan proved to be incompetent in the playoffs. They were always just a few changes short of breaking through.

[@wasthataspongebobreference533]

It’s sad (and also amazing) that the greatest thing this team accomplished was the “Mom Made Pizza Rolls” meme instead

[@HB-ih9qp]

everybody can say oh yea they never won a chip like winning a chip is easy.....mind they were only together 3 MF YEARS. respect the game

[@Joswag]

1998 Jazz are obviously one of these teams The 90s Magic are also in the discussion

[@skywalker2676]

This thunder team is our generations Orlando magic. I wouldn’t say jazz because they was older when they went to back to back finals

[@xKingofHearts87x]

Nah as a Lakers fan that Thunder series pissed me off we let that one slip away I was heated.

[@ronmangoba1159]

17:19 Well KD and LeBron did got a finals rematch..... That is when after Durant left OKC and joined the Warriors in the 2016 offsesson and defeated the Cavs twice back to back with KD winning 2 rings.

[@jaredanderson53]

If they kept Harden, they win a hand full of rings. The warriors dynasty doesn't happen. And there's a debate about the best player of the decade between durant and lebron.

[@zaquarviousgaffney367]

If I was to rewrite history I'll make 2011-12 Thunder team wins the finals

[@cjcolehour2778]

okc wins that championship, they form a dynasty.

[@richardnelson7442]

Now looking back on it, I truly forgot Harden was on the team during that 2012 Finals.

[@vulcanraven9701]

because he was terrible

[@niltash4ever]

Leave it to Skip to call that 2012 Thunder team the “Baby Thunder” just because he wants to minimize Lebron’s win over them. They were a good team and best many great teams along the way.

[@urbaindelva7869]

Meanwhile, Skip's Spurs won three of their championships against very weak teams, one of them in a lockout-shortened season, but he never talks about that.

[@plugcap2604]

Russ and kd was really carrying them teams , I know that had to be exhausted

[@thacool101]

So when you guys making a wrestling channel?

[@SeraphimTwo]

Durant🐍

[@SirskiMula]

I find it hilarious klay plays out of his mind in 1 game 6 and plays 💩 in all the others and people are like “game 6 klay”😂

[@spider-man120]

He’s had amazing game 6’s. It’s mostly when they’re down 3-2 and he’s clutch.

[@leeartlee915]

I use to be sad that the Blazers skipped Durant… but when I saw that weak ass move of him joining the 73 win Warriors, the sting got taken out of it a bit.

[@emmanuelcanete3700]

Just thinking in a world where the okc had the duo of harden and kd instead of russ and kd. Would they have been just as successful or more

[@GOATFam-bh5lf]

MAKE ONE ABOUT THE BAD BOY PISTONS

[@DeeKAAM]

Mark cuban comment was actually a tactic to split kd N russ I think it worked

[@nvm9040]

Harden had a good career with OKC but if he stayed? Would he have developed like how he went to Houston?

[@TorontoWire]

This was Karma on Oklahoma for stealing Seattle's team. I got the receipts.

[@THERobertL2000]

Seattle's team AND history. 💯

[@EashwarKantemneniiamawesome]

KD and Russ literally ended Kobe and Tim Duncan's playoff careers. Crazy

[@spaceymcgrady1]

Guess we need the 67 win spurs team next

[@spider-man120]

They said they wouldn’t do that because they did win a championship before.

[@frederickdelius1106]

He always picks players with clean fingernails. Thats how he mkes the final decision. Lol

[@thesilencer3156]

Leave now would’ve been way different if they won!

[@d.luvevo711]

Not mentioning LeBron fouling KD in Game 2 of the Finals is crazy ngl

[@Nickgonelie]

Give them another two years together and they would’ve won a championship.

[@malachideleon-gil3720]

The Thunder r the definition of a gatekeeping team. Good enough to eliminate others from titles hopes but not having enough to push themselves to that top spot

[@cerebralfanatic]

KD proved he never had the heart to win in the first place when he joined the team that eliminated them even though they were leading the series @ one point All the talent in the world but if you don't got the heart it's probably not gonna happen

[@peri7057]

How about the 2016 Warriors?

[@enanebres6481]

97K 6mo 60.3K subs

[@ceebee312]

Only one really outta that team, that earned their ring from another team was… Serge Ibaka !

[@benjaminan1183]

3:29 6'9"

[@CHYLLofficial]

Harden shouldn’t have gotten money-hungry. They probably would have been back in the Finals the next season had he not have left for money.

[@Anthonydu01630]

Ibaka is 7ft not 6’9 lol

[@floydlittle1423]

They were babies at the time

[@frederickdelius1106]

I still want someone to do a deep dive on the finals and see if lebron was given this one.

[@shadhinov]

The west was stacked.

[@MusicLover-my6fo]

To be fair, Kevin Durant did say that seeing the Warriors lose in game 7 to the Cavaliers made him feel like the Warriors needed him. Assuming the Warriors won, he probably would've stayed in OKC, or he would've gone to either the Celtics, Spurs, Clippers or Heat. And besides, would you really want to live in Oklahoma when you could live in California?

[@Janon743]

Uh, no thanks. Urban California isn’t a desirable place to live imo. I’ll pass on paying 8 dollars for a gallon of gas

[@aguy4823]

​@@Janon743as if durant cares about 8 dollars lol

[@flyingblasian1352]

Nah, the 2012 Thunder were great, but they get swept by a healthy 2019 Warriors team. Prime Steph, Prime Klay, Prime KD, Prime Draymond, and a half-decent DMC clears easily.

[@17thNO]

James Harden fans blame Doc Rivers for James Harden's struggles in the 2012 finals loss.