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NBA

This Thunder Big 3 Already Eclipses The Old Guard of KD/Russ/Harden

Brandon Ellis photo
By Brandon Ellis · 2 min read
Thunder
May 28, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) and guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates during the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game five of the western conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

This year’s Oklahoma City Thunder team is probably one of the best in recent memory because of the young core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren. This second prominent Big 3 has taken this franchise to the highest level in NBA history, The first was Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. With both these trios reaching the same point at this point now, I think this year’s OKC team has closed the debate of better BIG 3 already, and would slam the door shut on that debate if they win the Championship. 

Comparing The Big 3s as a Whole 

I get what people will say about the older Big 3, that all three of them have won the NBA MVP award in their careers at some point. But the individual accomplishments of those guys didn’t equal the team’s success that this current team has as a unit, and how dominant these young guys are in dominating game-to-game. These three of SGA/J-Dub/Chet have the dynamic that the other trio didn’t have, which is that they understand the dynamics of who is the Alpha of the team right away, and there are no Egos on the team.  

This year’s Thunder team understands that SGA is the Alpha, and the others join in and follow his lead, and it works well. Meanwhile, the KD/Russ/Harden trio proved that even though they were more talented, they couldn’t get the fluidity needed to be consistent and dominate all of the time like the current Thunder team is. Also, this Thunder squad defensively is MILES Better than the 2012 trio, all three can change the game on the defensive end of the floor. 

Final Thoughts

The older Thunder trio was an amazing trio that could’ve had more if they stuck together, but the Egos of all three prevailed as Harden wanted his team, Durant wanted the championships over staying loyal, Westbrook dominated in his time by himself until it was time for him to move on as well. This Thunder crew is going to be the Favorite to win the Championship in a landslide, unlike that 2012 squad, because of the historic defense and the way the game has evolved because of this young team.

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