Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant tried to dispel any notions that he didn’t get along with fellow superstar Russell Westbrook.
Speaking with The Oklahoman, Durant opened up about his friendship with teammate Russell Westbrook, whom he has played with since they were drafted in 2007.
“There’s times we cuss each other out, but that’s a part of being brothers,” Durant said. “Because I know if I need something, he’ll be there, and if I need to talk to someone outside of basketball, he’ll be there. It’s a real brotherhood-type relationship.”
While Durant spoke mostly positive about his bond with Westbrook, he did acknowledge that things aren’t always smooth sailing between them.
“There’s times where we go at it,” Durant said. “There’s times I don’t like what he’s doing out on the court, there’s times where he hates what I’m doing out on the court. There’s times where it’s Russ, you gotta control your attitude, or KD, you gotta stop, you gotta speak up, whatever.”
Durant also addressed media pundits and personalities who have speculated that Westbrook's shot selection has been a source of contention between the two. Westbrook is averaging one more shot per game than Durant this season, and has averaged more shot attempts per game than Durant, a four-time NBA scoring champion over the past three-plus seasons.
“How can you tell? That’s my whole question. What are you basing that off of? Because he shoots more than I do one game?” Durant spoke of the supposed tension between him and Westbrook. “That don’t make no sense. We don’t like each other because he shot more? That don’t make no sense. And it’s really disrespectful to me or to us because you think I’m that selfish of a person.”
Durant is in the last year of a five-year, $89.2 million contract, and he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, leading to outside speculation on if he’ll remain in Oklahoma City.
Still, if Durant’s recent comments are anything to go by, then there is no rift between him and Westbrook. Durant also recently selected Westbrook to be his presenter as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, notes ESPN.