Two years of reporting by New York Times journalist Jonathan Abrams culminated in a 304-page book priced at 24 € and published by HarperCollins, examining how Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden formed a fleeting powerhouse before the team fragmented in 2016, Basket USA reported.
The franchise started out with a 3–29 record after relocating from Seattle to Oklahoma City, operating in an environment where industrial smells of dog food drifted around the arena known locally as the “Peake.” Abrams told Basket USA that the city served as a unique backdrop because it marked the first time the local population hosted a major professional sports team.
““It’s a good lens to analyze how the NBA has transformed since their arrival, for better and for worse,”” Jonathan Abrams told Basket USA regarding his motivation to chronicle the era.
Reporting the Lost Roster
Abrams spent two years gathering accounts from role players such as Shaun Livingston and Anthony Morrow, alongside high school and college coaches connected to the future MVPs. While he tracked down numerous figures across the circuit he has covered since 2007 and 2008, certain central figures remained out of reach.
““I tried for quite a while, but in the end, I didn’t succeed.””
Nick Collison, known as “Mr. Thunder,” also did not participate due to a confidentiality clause in his contract as an assistant special to Sam Presti. However, interviews with Jeff Green, Thabo Sefolosha, and Serge Ibaka shaped the narrative structure.
The Book Traces the 2012 Finals and Player Departures
The book begins at the edge of the court during the 2012 NBA Finals as the young roster watched the Miami Heat claim the championship. The narrative then moves backward to their individual arrivals in Oklahoma City and childhood origins before addressing their eventual splits.
Conversations with Kevin Durant regarding his exit to the Golden State Warriors provided unexpected insights into player movement. ““What Kevin was able to confide to me about his departure was particularly revealing,”” Abrams told Basket USA, noting that the forward expressed perspectives on leaving that had not previously surfaced in mainstream media coverage.
Sam Presti Shaped the Franchise Through Different Eras
Sam Presti maintained a heavy influence over the franchise’s public image while the project took shape. Abrams said that Presti constructed both the original 2012 contender and the roster that secured an NBA title in 2025 using structural elements from the past era.
““Sam is obviously a unique, central, and very important character in this whole story,”” Abrams told Basket USA regarding the executive’s singular voice within the organization.
Turning Points of a Short-Lived Era
Beyond roster moves, injuries altered the trajectory of the franchise during its competitive window. The departure of James Harden preceded a 2012–2013 season where the team replaced him with Kevin Martin, maintaining offensive dominance until Russell Westbrook suffered a knee injury in the playoffs following a collision with Patrick Beverley.
Abrams concluded that examining these events a decade after the 2016 dismantling allowed for a clearer historical assessment than would have been possible immediately following the roster’s dissolution.
