“Always Been Like That Between Us”: Nets’ Kevin Durant Discusses Russell Westbrook’s Insane Block in Lakers Win
Together, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook practiced for many hours over the course of their eight seasons as teammates for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The two are quite familiar with one another’s respective games. That’s one of the major reasons Durant had to smile when asked what it was like to face up against an ex-teammate during Sunday night’s 116-103 loss for the Brooklyn Nets to the Los Angeles Lakers. Since Kevin Durant departed Oklahoma City six years ago,
Russell Westbrook and Durant have never shied away from one another. Since their breakup, the pair have battled 11 times. The most recent was on Sunday night when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets 116-103.
Kevin Durant gives props to Russell Westbrook for his crazy block
“He’s just going to hack me the whole time,” Kevin Durant said. “We’ve been doing that s**t since we was 18, 19. But more than anything, to see the role Russ is playing right now, he’s just affecting the game in so many different ways. Twelve assists tonight, four turnovers, 14 points, he came in and put his imprint on the game, so it’s always fun playing against him, regardless of what setting it is. It’s always been like that between us.”
Westbrook’s behind-the-back block of Durant at the conclusion of the first quarter was the play that garnered the most attention, but Durant earned his own point of retaliation by blocking Westbrook later in the game. When Durant made the decision to leave the Thunder and go with the Golden State Warriors in the summer of 2016, it was a delightful back-and-forth between two players who had just gone through a difficult professional divorce.
Rn$$b0ck pic.twitter.com/Qnqltl18U3
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) November 14, 2022
Since being sent to the bench, Westbrook has had a significant impact on the Lakers. In November, the former MVP is averaging 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists while shooting 42.4 percent from outside the arc. Twitter was buzzing a lot after Westbrook’s block, but Durant would get him back in the third.
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