LeBron James’ Role in Splitting Iconic James Harden – Kevin Durant Duo Revealed by Ex-OKC Star

Miami Heat teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were on the 2012 Olympics team alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden.

LeBron James’ Role in Splitting Iconic James Harden – Kevin Durant Duo Revealed by Ex-OKC Star

James Harden, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James (Image via FirstSportz)

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The 2010s produced some of the best basketball rivalries the sport has ever seen. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and then Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson.

These players combined to win 8 NBA championships and dominated All-Star and All-NBA nominations in that decade. They defined basketball, and continue to do so to this day.

Some notable player movements shaped that decade, with James, Durant, and Harden all moving teams. Even though some movements drew the ire of fans and analysts alike, there was no question that it helped shape basketball history.

However, some movements could have altered history. For instance, had Durant not moved to the Golden State Warriors, the championship numbers beside James, Curry, and the Slim Reaper himself could be vastly different.

Durant was part of an Oklahoma City Thunder team that had a young core tipped to be championship contenders. Then, James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets, and that altered the franchise’s chances.

KD, James Harden, and Russ got back from the Olympics. KD said, ‘Man, we’re about to lose James, and it’s not about the money. We’re about to lose James because when we were over in the Olympics, Bron, D-Wade, all those guys were James, ‘You too nice bro to be coming off the bench, you a No. 1 option.’

Kendrick Perkins revealed on the Road Trippin’ podcast

This revelation from Kendrick Perkins indicates that then-Miami Heat teammates, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, messed with Harden, which prompted him to leave a contract extension from the Thunder, and forced a trade away.

Kevin Durant was pissed at LeBron James after James Harden trade

Kevin Durant was part of that 2012 Olympics team, and knew the way LeBron James and Dwyane Wade influenced James Harden, their Oklahoma City Thunder core was about to break up. However, there was something else that irked him more than that.

What really pissed me off is like, Bron and D-Wade, and so many dudes around the NBA sending tweets out, like, ‘ Congrats to my bro James. He got his,’ They were so happy that we weren’t together anymore. They were so happy I know Bron was so f**king happy we wasn’t together no more, ’cause we was on their a**.

Kevin Durant said on Starting 5 on Netflix

The 15-time All-Star added that they knew all other teams, including the Miami Heat superteam, which beat them in the 2012 NBA Finals, were scared of OKC’s potential.

Kevin Durant believes LeBron James and others intentionally influenced James Harden to leave OKC and chart his own path, knowing the collective young core of himself, Harden, and Russell Westbrook were about to dominate the league.

Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook could have won titles together at OKC

When LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and the Miami Heat faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 NBA Finals, both sides knew they had defeated the league’s best on their way up.

OKC in the 2012 NBA Finals
OKC in the 2012 NBA Finals (Image via Complex Sneakers/X)

Where the Heat survived multiple deficits to come back and win multiple playoff series, OKC dispatched the defending champion Dallas Mavericks and the league’s best team in the San Antonio Spurs, to reach their 1st Finals.

James and the Heat almost swept the Thunder 4-1 to win their first title. However, except for Game 5, the first 4 were all decided in single digits. That is why Kevin Durant felt the Heat and the rest of the league knew OKC were about to dominate the league.

They could have, as they had a talented core. Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden were the primary scorers, with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins manning the interior.

That team could have won titles had they stayed together. But first Harden’s trade, and then Durant’s free agency signing with the Warriors, stopped them from fulfilling their potential.

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