If it seems longer, it’s only four seasons ago that the Thunder were the game’s hottest young team, opening the 2012 Finals with a victory over Miami.
Kevin Durant, then 23, outscored LeBron James, 36-30. Russell Westbrook, 23, had 27 points with 11 assists.
The Thunder have been rolling and tumbling ever since, right up through Friday’s Game 3 which it lost on its home floor to the Spurs, who took a 2-1 lead in their second-round series.
We’re no longer talking fathers and heirs apparent.
The Spurs look like they may never die, the Thunder like they could disappear in a poof.