Thunder Twin Towers: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

From 2008 to 2016, the defining identity of the Oklahoma City Thunder was a young duo: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Fans dubbed them 'Big King Durant, Little King Westbrook'—Durant was the steady scoring champion and face of the franchise, while Westbrook was the explosive, high-energy point guard. One calm, one volatile, they carried the Thunder through its golden era.

The partnership began in 2008, when Westbrook was drafted by the Thunder and joined Durant, who had arrived in 2007. In 2010, James Harden was added via the draft, and the Thunder briefly fielded the 'Durant + Westbrook + Harden' trio. In the 2011-12 season, they stormed all the way to the NBA Finals. Though they fell to the Miami Heat's Big Three, they showed the whole league the potential of a young juggernaut.

In the dual-core system, Durant was the finisher and Westbrook the engine. Durant closed out games with mid-range jumpers and threes; Westbrook drove the tempo with penetration and kickouts. Their personalities complemented each other: Durant reserved and restrained, Westbrook outward and flamboyant. It was precisely this complementarity that kept the Thunder competitive in the West for years, and allowed Durant to claim four straight scoring titles.

In 2016, Durant left for the Warriors and the Thunder duo era ended. But the 'Big and Little Kings' years were the most youthful chapter of both men's careers—one became a four-time scoring champion and MVP, the other later won MVP leading his own team. Whatever the controversies after they parted ways, that stretch of Thunder basketball side by side is written into the memory of Oklahoma City fans.

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