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OKC Thunder: Giannis won both, but Durant opted for a ring above allegiance.

July 4th, 2016, marked a memorable day for OKC Thunder enthusiasts, albeit for reasons they would rather forget. It was intended to be a day of joyous Independence Day celebrations, but it was also poised to be the day Kevin Durant reaffirmed his commitment to the OKC Thunder.

However, as history unfolded, Durant’s decision took a different turn. He departed for the team that OKC had faced in a playoff series, a team that had an extraordinary 73-win season – the Golden State Warriors.

After dedicating eight seasons to OKC, Durant sought a change, desiring more sharpshooters around him. To the disappointment of Thunder fans, Durant went on to secure an NBA championship with the Warriors in the following season. Many Thunder supporters felt he was destined to achieve this feat in the iconic Thunder Blue.

Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, a Greek forward named Giannis Antetokounmpo was tirelessly striving to bring a championship to his small-market franchise.

Fast forward to this year, and Giannis delivered, clinching Milwaukee’s first championship since 1971.

The OKC Thunder now grapple with lingering “what if” questions. Is it the Seattle curse, or is it Sam Presti’s approach of prioritizing “people over players,” as he articulated during a press conference? The debate persists over whether championships are won by players or by the collective efforts of the team.

Numerous inquiries surround what OKC could have done differently to retain Durant as a lifelong Thunder player. In contrast, he secured two championships with a super-team, while Giannis achieved his first ring with the team that drafted him in 2013.

Reflecting on the past, only two players from Milwaukee’s 2013 roster, Giannis and Khris Middleton, persevered to win the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy.

Giannis expressed his sentiments in a tweet after Durant’s initial title victory with the Warriors, which further fueled the contemplation of “what if” scenarios. As Giannis raised the trophy on July 20th, thoughts inevitably turned to Durant and what the OKC Thunder might have achieved had he not departed for Oakland in 2016.

On the night the Bucks secured the title, a tweet surfaced: “This is what loyalty looks like, Mr. Durant.” It encapsulated the stark contrast between Giannis celebrating a championship with his drafted team and Durant’s journey through super-teams.

This article will explore the various “what if” scenarios, delving into the alternate paths that could have shaped the OKC Thunder’s destiny.