In 2012, the Thunder reached the core of the finals. How did they develop later? Harden may not have a championship in his life

After the Thunder reached the Finals again after 13 years this season, many people began to compare them with the former team. Even the Thunder's current players came out to express their views. This season, the Thunder's substitute Isaiah Giovant believes that the current Thunder can defeat the Thunder led by Durant, Westbrook, Harden and others.

Then looking back at the 2011-2012 season, although the Thunder's dominance in the regular season was far inferior to this season, they were obviously the better-performing side in the playoffs. That year they defeated the defending champion Mavericks, the Lakers led by Kobe, and the Spurs led by GDP. Therefore, their record of reaching the finals was obviously higher.

But unfortunately, the Thunder did not win the championship in the end with a single move, but at that time, the common sayings from the outside world were that they were still young and had a chance later. However, no one expected that this was the last time that the Thunder reached the finals, and the core players later went and scattered. So let's take a look at the core players who once played for the Thunder. How will they develop in the future!

1.Durant

First of all, Durant is the leader Durant. After losing in 2012, he ushered in his true peak step by step. In the 2013-2014 season, he averaged 32 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game. In the 2016 playoffs, the Thunder were almost able to reach the finals again, but they were reversed by the Warriors while leading 3-1, and this loss also made Durant make a complete change.

Durant announced his joining the Warriors in the offseason in 2016. His arrival made this team the only team in the league. In 2017, they really won the championship easily. They lost a game in the entire playoffs. Durant in the finals also won the FMVP with his average performance of 35+ per game. In 2018, the Warriors successfully defended their title, and Durant was re-elected as the FMVP, but because he has a peak MVP like Curry, there are still many fans who do not think he is the number one person in the league.

Durant left the Warriors in 2019, and then he joined the Nets and the Suns. Although he suffered a major injury from a ruptured Achilles tendon, he still maintains a very good state at the moment. Even Durant is 36 years old this season, he averages 26.6 points, 6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. However, since the Suns missed the playoffs, Durant is likely to have finished the last game of his Suns career. According to media reports, he is likely to be traded by the Suns before the draft begins, but considering his age, it will be difficult for him to win the championship before he retires in the future.

2. Westbrook

Looking back at the 2012 Finals, Westbrook's performance can be said to be extremely unstable. He scored 43 points at that time, and he also played with only 19 points from 4 of 20 shots in a single game. However, in the end, the Thunder was willing to believe Westbrook, and the team was still building a lineup around him and Durant. After losing to the Warriors in 2016, the Thunder became Westbrook's single core, and he also ushered in a big explosion in the 2016-2017 season.

Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 1.6 steals in the regular season this year. After becoming the first player to average triple-double per game since Oscar Robertson, he also successfully won the MVP. Later, Westbrook averaged triple-double per game many times, but because the team was unable to break through the first round, they also ushered in reconstruction in 2019, and Westbrook also transferred to the Rockets at that time.

However, after leaving the Thunder, Westbrook's strength declined more and more significantly, especially in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs, his performance is no longer worthy of his maximum salary. After joining the Lakers in 2021, Westbrook ushered in the lowest point in his career. Later, he directly changed from a maximum salary of 47 million to a basic salary, but even so, he failed to realize his dream of winning the championship in both the Clippers and the Nuggets. Westbrook is eligible to become a free agent again this offseason, and no one knows what choice he will make next. There are also reports that the Israeli team is in contact with Westbrook and they want to sign the former MVP star through a sky-high contract.

3. Harden

As the only player who left the team after the Thunder's third young master lost in 2012, the Thunder clearly didn't want to stay Harden that offseason. They not only asked the latter to cut their salary, but also gave him only a short time to consider it. In the end, before Harden made a decision, the Thunder sent him to the Rockets first. However, this deal changed Harden's career. After coming to Houston, he gained more trust from the team, and he became a stronger star. Harden during the Rockets era, he won the scoring champion for three consecutive seasons during his peak years, and even won the MVP in 2018. In the 2018-2019 season, Harden scored a 36.1 point per game that set a new career record. That year he played the strongest scoring performance among the active stars. However, when he was in his best condition, Harden met Cosmic Reign, so the Rockets lost to the same team for two consecutive years.

Harden left the Rockets in the 2020-2021 season. In order to compete for the championship, he joined too many teams, but it has to be said that the team's performance has always been unsatisfactory. Harden is now 35 years old. Although he still has the best lineup level, he will most likely choose to sign a new contract with the Clippers and stay in the team until at least 2027, judging from the Clippers' lineup, they have no hope of competing for the championship..

4. Ibaka

The reason why the Thunder let Harden go in 2012 was also related to Ibaka, because both he and Harden were facing renewal at that time, but in comparison, a young inside player like Ibaka seemed more irreplaceable in the Thunder's lineup at that time. So in the end, the Thunder not only sent Harden away, but they also signed a four-year, 48 million early contract renewal with Ibaka in 2012. After renewing the contract, Ibaka played his best form in the Thunder. In the 2013-2014 season, he averaged 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1 assist and 2.7 blocks per game. In addition, before this season, he won the block king for two consecutive years and was also selected for the All-Defensive Team. After losing to the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Ibaka failed to stay with the team in the offseason. In the end, he was traded to the Magic for Oladipo and others.

After half a season in the Magic, Ibaka was sent to the Raptors again, and here he realized his dream, that is, to win the championship. In the 2019 playoffs, Ibaka averaged 9.4 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block per game. With his help, the Raptors successfully won the championship. Later, Ibaka's decline became more and more obvious, and then he worked for the Clippers and the Bucks. In 2023, he completely left the NBA and went to the European League.