A lot has changed for the Oklahoma City Thunder since the team moved from Seattle in 2008. One constant throughout the years has been point guard Russell Westbrook, who developed into one of the best players in the game while winning the MVP in 2017 and racking up triple-doubles on a nightly basis.
However, all good things come to an end. After the Thunder made a stunning deal that sent Paul George to the Los Angeles Clippers, Westbrook asked to be traded. On Thursday, Thunder president Sam Presti sent “The Brodie” to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Chris Paul and multiple first-round draft picks.
With Westbrook on the move, Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry is now the longest-tenured player that has remained with their original team:
Steph is now the longest tenured player in NBA with original team who drafted him
— sam esfandiari (@samesfandiari) July 12, 2019
Curry was drafted in 2009, just one year after Westbrook went to the then-Sonics with the fourth overall pick. This season marked Curry's 10th in the NBA, and he was named to his sixth consecutive NBA All-Star team.
This is also a reflection on just how different the NBA has become in terms of how players approach free agency and where they would like to play. Gone are the days of superstar players–like Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant–spending their entire careers with one team.
Of course, the modern era is vastly different. Players are making more money, and there is a desire for stars to find other elite players to team up with in pursuit of a championship.
That said, Curry is one of the guys that stands a good chance at retiring in a Warriors team, given that he is the face of the franchise and Golden State has repeatedly stated their unwavering commitment to their core.
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