The NBA rumors continue for Kevin Durant as Russell Westbrook is slowly becoming the most complete player in the NBA.
Russell Westbrook has tied Michael Jordan's record for the most triple doubles in a calendar month with seven this March. Jordan had the same in April 1989. Westbrook could also break the 17 that Magic Johnson did in 1988-89. The OKC point guard has 16 already.
His teammate, Kevin Durant is all-praises for his teammate, as quoted in ESPN.
That was unreal," Durant said. "You've got to time that right, and you've just got to be as athletic as him. There's only a few." Durant had to pause, then resumed:
"Well, I don't know if there's anybody in the league that can do that. You've got to make the free throw, but I'll take the two points and the acrobatic play instead. But yeah, he's a freak of nature, man."
The Thunder will most likely lock the no.3 seed in the Western Conference. They could face the second seed San Antonio Spurs in the second round. The Spurs, just like the Warriors are undefeated at home. This is what makes this season an aberration-a team like the Thunder having a sense of hopelessness. That no matter how good they can get, it still won't be enough.
Durant is not thinking that way, of course. Nothing is written in stone, but the NBA championship landscape is down to four teams: two teams that rely on team play and two teams that rely on star power. The good money is that the Warriors and the Spurs will beat the Thunder and the Cavaliers, whenever and whoever would meet.
If these predictions hold true, this will be the backdrop that substantiates the claim earlier in the month at News OK where Joel Meyers claimed that Durant would leave the Thunder if the team failed to reach the Finals (beating at least one of the Spurs/Warriors in the process). There is also the idea of Durant wanting to have "his own team."
The Thunder is a strong team with two of the best players in the league but there is little room for improvement in the offseason. Also, Westbrook and Ibaka will have expiring contracts next season. Durant will have a lot to think about and if they don't win out, the crystal ball prediction of KD re-signing for a one year contract does not seem so solid anymore.
Anything is possible for Kevin Durant if they lose. It's fair for him not to think about it now, but the only way for OKC to really keep him is to win. Russell Westbrook is becoming a franchise player who can carry a team by himself, and there is a chance that by next year, he probably will.