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://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    AW…I didn’t think he would be top 10 all time anyway. I can see top 10 PG of all-time though.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7C0vd-L5lg Munky

    Slick Ric can’t stop nibbling on Rose’s bits. He isn’t on a Durant Lebron level.

  • Ldub

    I can see the points you make with Phil coming in…but I dont agree. Westbrook will only have the advantage in the paint against the 2nd teir pg’s. He needs to utilize his speed and quickness to be effective. And I do agree Phil is a great coach, but what Im saying is, IDK if his style of ball would fit in OKC. Better put….IDK if the triangle would benefit all of the team as opposed to just a few stars. Is the level of intelligence for the players high enough to make it work? Remember majority of them are 22-28. Not saying its such a tough task to overcome…but when you have a shoot first PG, an iso 6th man, and create my own shot MVP…im having trouble seeing the benefit being greater.

  • Ldub

    Top 10 alltime? Doubtful. Youre going put him up there with MJ, Kobe, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt etc? I dont think Rose is on that level. If people are saying KD and LBJ wont be…there is no way that Rose will be. He has a similar style to Westbrook and NO ONE will EVER say RW is going to be top 10! I think its all in the name of Rose. People like this guy. He draws you to him because he is like a silent assassin. But I have to agree with Slick…top 10 pg..but not top 10 ever.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I didn’t include Eric Gordon because he’s coming off injury. I also considered Derozan, but thought he hadn’t developed enough.
    I have Harden probably around six or seven.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    He ain’t gettig 3MVp’s and 4 rings. Sorry

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    DeRozan is terribly overrated if he’s anywhere near this conversation

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Oh top 10PG is definitely possible. Not just all-time out of everyone. That ain’t happenin

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    LOL, DeRozan. That is all.

  • Sizzle

    Just out of curiosity, where does everyone rank Rose now??

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Ever?

  • Sizzle

    Amongst current NBA Players

  • http://www.slamonline.com Redd

    Would it be crazy to consider Rose possibly being top 20 all-time? Idk, definitely not top 10 because I can’t even put KD & LBJ there. But you never know Rose may earn the stripes for it. The kid has a MJ/Kobe mentality. He wants to destroy you.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ nbk: DeRozan > Ginobili remember?

  • tpathi1

    sizzle…after last year i would have told u that d rose is second to no one in the league..that both him and LBJ hold the ranks as the best players in the nba..I would say the same to you after this year..both Rose and LBJ are the two best players in the league by far..they both are athletic freaks at their position and have good heads on their shoulders…d rose is superior on so many levels against all pg’s in the league that it is not even funny..he has winning percentages against all of them and their respective teams and this from a guy who only played max 4 years against the other ellite pg’s..if there was a fantasy gm draft..i dont see d rose going any less than number 2 with LBJ being the number one overall pick..after watching these playoffs i have a new appreciation for KD’s game and his abilities, but he can score d rose can score, pass, and he can d up if he has to

  • tpathi1

    i gotta point out here that in 2010 this site rated d rose as the number 12 or 18 guy in the league i think..he won the mvp that year..i remember arguing with eboy or someone and they called me crazy when i said that d rose should be in the top ten (top 5 is maybe what i argued) and that ron artest should be in the top 50 lol

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    ^It was Pierce.
    If your talking about that idiot that said DeRozan was better than *player A* a while back that we ridiculed, then it was actually Pierce he was saying was not as good as DeRozan.

  • tpathi1

    i also must point out that when lebron made the ‘decision’ he spent atleast one minute talking about how great of a ball player d rose was and his thoughts towards going to Chicago (mainly speaking of d rose’s greatness) before he uttered the words “im taking my talents to south beach” – that is high praise for what is seeming like the most smartest ball player in the game right now…he should have just came to chicago..there would be no way we lose ever with those two guys in the lineup! maybe games, but championships would come by the dozens!

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Derrick Rose us probably between 6-15 depending on how his knee recovers. He was never a top 5 player. Bron, KD, KB, DW, DH, CP have held the top 5 firm for the last 2 years.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    Sorry, that was at TTB.
    Going into next year my player rankings are as follows.
    Semi-loosely:
    Bron
    KD
    Howard
    Kobe
    CP3
    Rose
    Wade
    Love
    Deron
    Russ West
    Rondo
    Melo

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    You can win MVP without being the best player. It’s most valuable, not best.

  • tpathi1

    DW and CP3 are nobodies compared to 2010 and 2011-2012 D Rose. They lose to him always when they play him! If d rose was healthy he would be the starting pg on the olympic roster too!

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Lol

  • tpathi1

    nbk..he has been the only other ball player to be MVP in the last 4 years..and rightfully so..he made all the point guards look terrible and they all know that he is bigger faster stronger, and hell they are probably real scared since they know he works harder than them too! im sorry homie there is nothing firm about your top 5..

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    tpath1 has a troll now too.
    His troll talking crazy sh*t like, D-Will and CP3 can’t hold a light to D-Rose…. Hmmm… lol.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I like Derozan’s development so far. He has a ways to go, but I like his progress. For all the talk about Harden for me the biggest change has just been in his confidence. He’s picked up some craftiness, but his skills have been fairly consistent. It’s mainly about confidence with him. Derozan, on the other hand, has tons of room for skill development and seems hell bent on doing it. I didn’t watch him much, but I saw some flashes.
    Of course, I’m also the guy that loves Nick Young’s game.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    Lake, so you think that at this point in his career Kobe is better than CP? The same CP that led a Clippers team that was 32-50 the year before he arrived to the 5th best record in the West and a 2nd round appearance with what is possibly the worst coach in the L at the helm. I don’t see it.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    Mmmh, it is tough for me to say JT. I think Chris Paul certainly has an opportunity to prove he is better than Kobe next year. It isn’t established in my book yet though. I mean if KB doesn’t perform I don’t care, I won’t have him in my top 10, but if he does perform equal to or better than last year, I would be hard pressed to place CP3 ahead of him.
    I have no complaints with someone that has Paul ahead of Kobe next year.
    AllenP, calling himself out lol.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    I am not sold on Derozan’s game. He’s too much of a one-trick pony for me. He’s a good scorer with excellent ball-in-hand skills but he doesn’t offer much in terms of playmaking and rebounding.

  • http://Roosterteeth.com Caboose

    Top PG’s all time:
    Magic
    Oscar
    West
    Stockton
    Isiah
    Kidd
    Cousy
    Frasier
    Tiny
    Payton
    Nash
    Kevin
    I doubt Rose will scratch the top 10 honestly. That injury will hurt him for a while, especially since his game is truly based on athleticism. Minus the injury, I could see him getting past Kevin and maybe Nash. Dude has some stuff competition though.

  • Ldub

    I think Dwill has been forgotten about to an extent, because he played for NJ. CP3 is still beast and we dont really know what rose would have done or will do because of the injury. People claim he wont be the same, but Rose’s speed is still 2-3 steps faster than most players, which means if he lost a step or 2…he is still faster than 95% of the L. His agility may take a slight dip too…but then again you never know. I think people will still respect his abilities enough to allow him to still drop 25,5 and 5.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    lmao my bad… DeRozan is better than Pierce. I’m like 90% sure that was Zogs.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Caboose: Chris Paul is cracking the top 10 for sure. And I don’t consider Jerry West a pg. And I’d put Frazier > Cousy. imo Cousy is hard to rank because he’s one of those pioneers like George Mikan who don’t really transcend their time.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    – Magic
    – Oscar (even though he’s equally a 2 imo)
    – Isiah
    – Frazier
    – Stockton
    – Kidd
    – Archibald
    – Payton
    – Nash
    – KJ
    – Cousy

  • BostonBaller

    Let’s not take what the guy said and run him over with a truck b/c of it. ““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.” A dynasty is being built is a little different than saying outright that they will win multiple chips. tpathi1/Wixurrs, Harden hasn’t taken a paycut yet and may not do so..time will tell. Sorry to dissapoint some Heat fans but no one is calling the guy a hero and IMO it isn’t the same thing Bosh & LBJ did. Like someone stated, theirs may have been cooked up in the back room. lol (planned) but Harden and Maynor (not superstars) are already on the team and SAY they want to make it work with the group they have. I’m not saying LBJ & Bosh did anything wrong so put away the Uzi. lol.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Slick Ric

    Co-sign ldub. I was thinking the same thing…In terms of being a top 10 PG of all-time, I think its highly capable for him. If he’s consistent with his production, I can see him passing up guys like nash, archibald and Payton but he’ll have to be nothing short of spectacular to get in that Isiah, Magic conversation.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    anybody who insults someone’s family on a basketball site needs a life.

  • tpathi1

    If d rose performs at the level he is at right now with his winning percentage and overall stats he will definately have the numbers to be a top ten pg all time..people d rose has been in the league for four years! And this past year he was out 30 games! If he stays healthy, put up the same numbers and win like two rings he def will be one of the tops all time (at pg) if he ends up winning more rings than lbj thruout his career that’s a rap then..he will be the second best baller ever..that’s a big IF but it can happen

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Ur using my name. Use your own, I won’t insult the intelligence of you and all the people who share your genetics. Trolling is not as much fun when that happens is it?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMo_HcRBnUY LakeShow

    No ones saying “it can’t happen.” It’s a huuuuge IF though.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Still pretty fun.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Still pathetic.

  • backboard

    @NBK: i need you to tell me something: what were the reasons Harden went to ASU? How is Harden acting off the court?

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    It’s sad you think insulting me on a website actually offends me. Haha you suck

  • clydesays

    I’d rank the ALL TIME list as:
    1. Magic
    2. Big O
    3. Stockton
    4. Cousy
    5. Kidd
    6. Isiah
    7. Clyde
    8. Tiny
    9. GP
    10. Nash

    Out of the current crop, Rose, CP3 & Rondo have the potential to crack the Top 10. Dunno about DWill…

  • Ldub

    He doesnt need to win a ring to be considered top 10pg. Nash has never won…and Payton didnt win until his final season in Miami when he got carried by Wade and Shaq. His career before 2006 is what solitified his position. I feel he would be in the same place, whether 06′ happened for him or not.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    Backboard – he followed a high school coach he trained with to ASU and talked about turning them into a winning program. He knew he would be the best player coming in, so he basically thought he could be the man on a winning college team. He also has some family in Phoenix.
    -
    Troll, If what I said didn’t bother you, you wouldn’t have acknowledged it, and your dumbass definitely wouldn’t have had to bring it up on a different page. Then again, me saying that also gave you another excuse to chase what you desire, attention. So you’re welcome. I’m sure you can put your ability to troll on your fridge, maybe your parents will give you an unintelligent pat on the back….oh wait, you are doing this as an adult. You are assuming the identity of another person, in a meaningless comment section on a basketball website, to try and annoy them and everyone else, as an adult. If there is not a more blatant sign of attention starved stupidity, idk what is.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    I never made it personal. You did. So it bothers you not me.

  • http://Slamonline.com nbk

    My bad Backboard, away from the nba court (i only hear about how he was at ASU and open gyms) he is conceited and talks a lot of sh*t about how good and idk “hard” he is. He just gives off the vibe that he wants shine, which makes it hard for me to believe he is just going to take a pay decrease to remain a third option in Oklahoma City.

  • Ldub

    If Rondo continues to put up #’s like he does…I think he will get to the top 10 well before Rose would. His scoring isnt the same (average wise)…but I feel he could score 25 a night. While still getting 8-10 boards and of course the double digit assists. You can say this is a direct result of him playing with the big 3. But even when those dudes are off the floor…he was still finding cats like Daniels, Bradley, Bass, MP for scores. He gives the ball right on the money for the teammate to be comfortable and in rhythm. I cannot say the same thing about Rose. I do think Rose is more explosive (perhaps in leaping) but they are both extremely quick/fast, can handle the rock, and get to where they want to go on the court. Rondo>Rose

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