Serge Ibaka Makes Bold Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant Statement

The Oklahoma City Thunder team featuring Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden is considered one of the biggest "what-ifs" in NBA history, as this trio of future MVPs ultimately failed to win a championship together. Harden was the first to leave the team, and after his departure, the Thunder never returned to the NBA Finals.

Former Thunder player Serge Ibaka, in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, stated his belief that the team could have won at least two championships if the core had stayed together. However, he emphasized that winning requires more than just talent, acknowledging the difficulty and the many factors involved, including luck and unseen work behind the scenes. Ibaka specifically cited the bad luck of Russell Westbrook missing the entire 2013 NBA Playoffs due to an injury caused by an accidental collision with Patrick Beverley as an example.

While the current Thunder roster won the franchise's first championship this season, leading some to argue they are the most talented solely because they won, the article notes that many believe the Durant-Westbrook-Harden era team possessed greater talent. Fans will never definitively know if that earlier team was the most talented in franchise history or if they would have secured two titles.

The possibility of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden playing together one final time before retirement is presented as a nice idea, but it is currently just a dream. This is highlighted by the recent news that Durant has joined the Houston Rockets and Harden has re-signed with the LA Clippers.