Though the OKC Thunder come into the upcoming campaign as reigning NBA Champions, the addition of Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets this summer now means a shift in the balance of power out West may be upon us.
For a team that already secured the second seed last season and built its identity around one of the NBA’s stingiest defenses, bringing on a playoff-proven superstar isn’t just an upgrade, but a statement.
Houston was one of the toughest outs in the West, and Durant’s arrival gives them a go-to scorer with a championship pedigree, someone who has proven time and again that he can deliver in the biggest moments.