Durant Reflects on Westbrook’s Impact

Despite their later career differences, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have always maintained a mutual respect for one another.

On Thursday morning, Durant shared insights about their time as teammates, describing Westbrook as an “inspiration” during their eight seasons together from 2008 to 2016.

In a conversation on X, Durant recounted a moment with their former Oklahoma City coach, Maurice “Mo” Cheeks, questioning what was tougher: practice before or after. He noted that Westbrook typically preferred to finish training in the morning.

Durant humorously admitted, “It’s probably going to be hard for me to show up before practice,” which eventually became a part of his routine. He emphasized that while many focus on Westbrook’s intensity on the court, he found him to be more quiet and methodical.

He went on to express admiration for Westbrook’s leadership, highlighting how he set a powerful example just by showing up every day. “I’ve seen this movie inspire people from all walks of life, but strangely, he didn’t say much,” Durant reflected. “For us, this basketball life is sacred, and what we put on that court matters immensely.”

During their tenure in Oklahoma City, the duo made five appearances in the Western Conference Finals, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 alongside James Harden. They almost cemented their status as one of the league’s greatest pairings.

Ultimately, that trio fell to LeBron James’ Miami Heat in the 2012 Finals, and Harden later left the team after being traded to the Rockets.

Durant was named the league MVP in 2014 and he and Westbrook reached the Western Conference Finals two additional times, in 2013 and 2017, but lost to the Golden State Warriors both times. After that season, Durant opted to join the Warriors.

This decision led to one of the league’s prominent rivalries as the Warriors emerged as a dominant force. Durant and his new team captured two NBA championships in 2017 and 2018, receiving Finals MVP honors in both series while Westbrook claimed the MVP award in 2017.

In closing his post, Durant reflected on his departure from Oklahoma City, suggesting that he sometimes wishes he had approached things differently. He ended with a heartfelt note to Westbrook, congratulating him on his “iconic career” and expressing his affection for him and his family.