Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  142 responses

James Harden Believes a ‘Dynasty’ is Being Built in OKC


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The pain of losing the NBA Finals to the Miami Heat remains raw for the OKC Thunder’s young stars, but they’re already looking forward to what the future holds for them.

And according to James Harden, who struggled mightily in the championship round, the Thunder can expect to be the ones hoisting up championship trophies going forward.

Harden says he wants to sign a long-term deal in OKC — and might take a bit less money to make that happen — in order to help the franchise dominate the NBA for years to come.

From the Oklahoman:

Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor join Harden as Thunder players who will be eligible to begin negotiating extensions to their rookie contracts starting July 1. But with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook already signed to max contracts, it’s anyone’s guess how the Thunder will be able to afford all five players. “I’m just leaving it up to my agent and Sam (Presti),” Harden said. “They’ll do a pretty good job of working it out. I’m focused on several other things right now. But when the time is (right), they’ll figure it out and it’ll be done.” Harden is widely considered to be a top five shooting guard and potentially a third maximum-allowable contract level player. But he said Saturday that team success is more important to him than money and potentially making more elsewhere.

“This is something special here,” Harden said. “A dynasty is being built here. So we’re winning we’re having fun and we’re brothers. The other stuff, you can’t buy it.” Harden said his close friendships with his teammates is an extremely important factor in his decision as well. “This team is like a family,” Harden said. “Like, we’re really brothers. We hang out most of the time every single day. You won’t find any other team like this. I love it here.”

James Harden isn’t alone in his stated willingness to forego dollars in order to remain in OKC. Eric Maynor also stressed the importance of sacrificing a little for the current team to remain intact.

Talk of a dynasty may be wildly premature, but one thing is certain: should the OKC Thunder somehow find a way to keep this group together, they will be serious NBA championship contenders for years to come.

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  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Lol I am bothered. You seem stupid, and tried to tell Me I was a “waste of life” for saying something I didn’t say. So I made it more simple for you by clarifying what I meant by slow mentally. Since you took it as me saying a disorder I just clarified, you are just stupid. And by that I meant you likely come from a line of stupid people. To make things clear to stupid people sometimes you have to make it personal. I am a “waste of life” and you are the product of beig stupid. Get it yet?

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Got it. You know I keep trying to put in my own name but SLAM keeps changing it back to you. That’s why I try to post serious basketball opinions. I just want to talk ball like everyone else here. I did misunderstand the slow mentally thing and I apologize for that. The guy who posts random crap like “I have a foot fetish” is someone else.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    If that wasn’t clear enough for you, stupidity bothers me. And i’m not really a nice person in places where i like to have at least semi-intelligent discussions about things* that interest me, so i tell stupid people (like yourself) how i feel about them.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    You know once you comment a couple times it will for the most part put in the right information. The system is obviously broken. So just correct the issue on your end and soon enough it will be fixed for you for the most part. You just have to be smarter than the website. It auto fills the name you use most often, usually.

  • Ldub

    When did all this trolling start? It isnt amusing or classy. Some of these cats have intelligence enough to make their own name. I dont understand why the have to hang on the coat tails of dudes who have been here for a while. And whats even more odd, its just a website where no one even knows who you really are. So not only are you using a fake-fake name. Youre feeling good about yourself in the process? Its just weird!

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I do type my own name. SLAM typed your name back in every time. I apologize for the things I said back there. They were uncalled for

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    WTF

  • Ldub

    If there is an issue (possibly with the name youve chosen)…then simply choose another name. Oddly enough, Ive never had an issue with it posting my comments as someone else. I see that before I click submit, I make sure it says “Ldub”. I have come across Caboose and others, but Id rather get credit for myself than someone else. I take pride in what I post…and If I was having issues with the system….then I would at least put “sorry for the name…this is “__________”….so that people dont confuse the two. Just saying…like nbk mentioned be smarter than the system!

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Like i said, for the most part, it will fill the name you (your IP Address) uses most often. It’s how Slam can ban people. Yes, they can ban you, even without a usual name. (Which I never asked anyone to do to you or any other troll for the record – I know you are not trying to be that obnoxious and do find some sense of enjoyment from this) The only person to ever get banne was Greek Dude, i don’t remember what his name was, but he was banned. He said he’d change his name and come back without realizing it wasn’t his name that would be banned.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Redd

    Sorry but Rose is better than CP3 & D. Will. How isn’t he when he’s out played them & won?

  • http://Slamonline nbk

    I have changed my name multiple times but it keeps coming back to nbk.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    You comment more with my information then your own. Are you Redd? You actually have to comment with your own name more than you comment with mine.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Delete all files and data on your browser. Enter your own information. That should do the most part of the trick as long as you comment with your regular name first.

  • Mack

    Ill never understand why guys leave good teams with great chemistry for a large sum of money. Let’s say someone offers Harden 10+ million and OKC wants to sign him for around 7 or 8, is that extra 3-4-5 million dollars really that important? Sure guys wanna be the go-to and the franchise but why leave a potential championship…. I’d like to ask 2006 Joe Johnson that.

  • Ldub

    Mack….I made that argument a week or so ago. Someone responded with they have to take care of their family! Which in return I laughed at because 7-10 million would become pennies at that point. I also made mention that if I was in a position to play ball for money…I dont need 15mil a year to take care of my fam. If I could bring in people that I knew could help in winning a championship, I would by all means take a pay cut.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Do you value basketball or the future of your family?
    .
    The answer to that question should help you understand.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    It’s not about you. It’s about your grand children. It’s called planning ahead, in preparation for the worst case scenario. Say you have a child who suffers a brain injury and can’t make an income to take care of his kids. Those extra millions you made during your career can take care of sch a horrible possibility. It’s basically selfish to put your life and the success of your career over the future of your family. Which I’m sure, someday, you will understand.

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    Funny how people question why the players won’t take pay cuts when they NEVER ask why billionaire ownership won’t dig deeper to deal with the consequences of going over the cap. It’s beyond stupid to ask someone to help save a billionaire money at your own expense. That whole mentality is warped to me. I also find it funny when people assume, based on their own lives, what a certain amount of money should and would mean to someone else. Do you know what their plans are for their money? How can you tell someone else how much money they should pass up? Basketball is a sport that can be played up until you can’t walk anymore. NBA careers, and the opportunity to make millions, is a very short lived experience. IT’S ONLY A GAME. No championship is worth a lifetime of financial stability.

  • Ldub

    Those scenarios are totally different nbk. The answer I gave was based on an average fam. Mom and Pops…maybe a few brothers and sister. If there was some sort of illness then by all means do what you have to do for your family. It all boils down to what is most important to you. Everyone wants to win a ring in their career. But if youre gifted enough to play ball and make millions (and youre doing it on behalf of the children/grandchildren) then go for the dough. I agree with you there. I am saying that if youre just planning for the future 8-9 million isnt that much of a difference. ((This would apply greatly for someone like DFish))

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    You Wer hear the saying “prepare for the worst, hope for the best” – most these guys don’t even start their families till the latter part of their career. There is no way to know what is going to happen. Might as well be prepared

  • Ldub

    Charlie….IDK if anyone was telling another person to pass up money, unless youre referring to what Mack said. I never stated what another should do financially. And that is for the reasons you stated. I was simply saying what I would do. And again, agreeing with nbk…no one knows what another has going on in their personal lives. But on a basketball standpoint (alone)….stating you want to win win win, but take the biggest payday possible, then expecting to get other stars (with the same “biggest payday possible” mentality) just wont work. So a pay cut from someone/somewhere has to happen for the pieces to fit. I am just saying what “I” would do if in that position (basketball perspective only)

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    Basically it’s about keeping things in perspective. It’s short sighted and a bit immature to believe that a basketball championship right now is going to be as valuable to you as your family’s financial security when you are 50. I’m sure Joe Johnson won’t be upset with himself for taking that extra $20 mil, and neither will his wife, children, and possible business partners.

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    ^That was for Mack.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I get what your saying LDub, my bad. I thought you were talking about in general.

  • Ldub

    I gotchu nbk. Like I said….responses were in regards to basketball sense. Aside fromt he family stuff.

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    Ldub, I believe they want to win. You can’t doubt it based strictly on the financial situation. The fact of the matter is, we can want two things at the same time that we can’t have simultaneously. At that point you have to decide which is more important. Most sane people won’t choose a short career in sports over long term success.

  • http://slamonline.com Mars

    DYNasty. Yeah they will be scary good for years to come, but they Ibake and Harden. Maynor, ehh…sorry kid, not so much. And if they can get another legit big…say KG or dare I say Odom they could be unstoppable. Goodbye Kendrick.

  • Ldub

    Charlie….I agree 100%. Either way….I would love to be in the position of the lowest paid player. Getting up every morning to travel and play ball? I couldnt think of a better way to make a living…other than NOT getting up and NOT traveling and making the same amount of money.

  • Ldub

    ^^^what!??

  • http://blackamericaweb.com charliewinning

    Yeah they’re definitely living their dreams right now. If I didn’t have kids I’d switch places my damn self if it were possible lol.

  • Ldub

    Myself and a buddy of mine have been thinkin about runnin over seas to see how that would go. Look at the process, got a coachs name down in San Diego that would give us a look and havent set the date yet. Kinda of hard when things are established here already ya know. Its a dream that kind of faded away. Now its like 60k a year is cool with me. As much as I would like to be over seas/ballin in NBA….I dont think I would be able to reach that level. Im confident in my skills but being 28 puts alot of doubt in my mind. So here I stay…talking to you about dreams and kids lol

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Well the hardest part of going over seas is most leagues have a cap on American players per team. I’ve also looked into it, and to even have a shot I would have to give up my job and life here and totally devote myself to something that i would have less then a 50% chance of getting a shot at. But one of the guys on my men’s league team (he only plays during the summer) just won a championship in Iceland and he loves it.

  • Ldub

    and thats what im talking about nbk. here (even though its less than the “potential”) its more of a certainty. If I didnt have a family and obligations here then id definitely at least try it. They should have a semi pro league or something. (not like the d league)..but like they have arena football/AAA baseball. I have never seen/nor heard of it. Its high school, college then pros. The “one” I just found is in Virginia. It would be nice to go back home and play but being in Cali makes it really difficult. Aside from all the family obligations already!

  • Ldub

    scratch that…I meant semi pro where I live…so I could at least do both. But those dudes dont make much.

  • http://Slamonline nbk

    What I meant is, I put in my own name then when I type a comment, your name shows up on the screen. Your name is never in my box to start

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I feel you LDub. I’m in the same situation, except they do have a “semi-pro” team out in Phoenix. Except a lot
    Of The guys wouldn’t have even played on my high school team. so it’s hardly semi-pro, it’s “not-remotely-pro”

  • LeBrOn 4 MvP!

    yo yo, this bout james harden, not about drose top 10 or family stuff. james harden you dint play your best in finals yall know what i mean but yall deserve a nice contract anyways yall.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Redd

    Lol.

  • BostonBaller

    “I have to feed my family” lol. How many of you on here do NOT make even 1 million a year and are still able to feed your families, take vacations and still save & invest? I thought so, therefore why can’t someone who is making even the minimum NBA salary do the same? Just because you make millions a year doesn’t mean you have to spend millions a year. I don’t buy the whole “what if” this or that happened scenarios or the “taking care of grandkids. Diversified investments, trust funds, college funds, savings accts, etc etc. IMO

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    This troll thing is a riot. ^_^

  • tpathi1

    haha this is like reading a scene out of the sequel Fight Club 2 – revenge of the trolls

  • Bob

    If OKC does become a dynasty, Harden isn’t going to be the 3rd option and will be too expensive for the 6th man. Getting Perry Jones in the draft is more like a “dynasty” move. KD on the right, PJIII on the left, Westbrook in the middle equals how do you want me to kill you. Jones is a huge 3 and headache match up problem. I see Harden leaving the family OKC for greener pastures. That’s business. Umm, while I’m still predicting… I feel it coming now…….. Perkins will be replaced in the near future leaving $$ for Serge and another young big man with a nasty disposition……….. who may that be?

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