May 17, 2011, the OKC Thunder played their first Conference Finals game in the team’s short history. Many predicted numerous Conference finals appearances for the original OK3 (Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden). The trio ultimately reached two conference finals appearances. Then OKC traded Harden prior to the start of the 2012-13 season and the dream of what could’ve been vanished.
Harden and Durant are back in the conference finals together for the first time since 2012. Only this time they’re on opposing squads, while Westbrook and the Thunder sit at home.