Many NBA teams, such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen’s Chicago Bulls and Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal’s Los Angeles Lakers, cemented their legacies with their championship wins. However, a few teams without titles, including the 2010s Oklahoma City Thunder, built a massive fan following. In a recent podcast, Jaren Jackson Jr. revealed his love for the Thunder during the Kevin Durant–Russell Westbrook era.
Despite playing for Conference rivals, the Memphis Grizzlies center admires Durant and Westbrook’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Although OKC reached the Finals in 2012, it failed to win a championship.
During an appearance on Grind City Media’s The Chris Vernon Show on Wednesday, Jaren Jackson Jr. revealed he left furious watching the Christmas Day game between LeBron James’ Miami Heat and his favorite Oklahoma City Thunder in 2012.
Why Jaren Jackson Jr. Was ‘Pissed’ Watch Durrant-Westbrook OKC?
The game between OKC and the Heat on Christmas Day was a rematch of their 2012 NBA Finals clash, which LeBron James and company won 4-1. OKC was a dominant force, with Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins as the Thunder’s rim protectors and KD and Brodie as all-around players.
While remembering the Christmas Day game, the Grizzlies star revealed his frustration was due to Russ and Perkins’ technical fouls. He said, “I remember watching Christmas Day games when the Thunder were playing the Heat, and they lost. Russ got a tech, Perk got a tech… I got a tech in my room. I was pissed. Huge Thunder fan, man.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. was a Russ/KD era Thunder fan before he entered the league…
“I remember watching Christmas Day games when the Thunder were playing the Heat and they lost. Russ got a tech, Perk got a tech… I got a tech in my room. I was pissed. Huge Thunder fan, man” pic.twitter.com/0IK7JNJEZQ
— Steven Adams Stats (@funakistats) September 11, 2024
The Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-97 on December 25, 2012. Durant left the Thunder in 2016 and won back-to-back championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. On the other hand, Russell Westbrook has joined the Denver Nuggets ahead of the 2024-25 season to clinch his first-ever NBA championship.
