Kevin Durant has offered a heartfelt tribute to his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, Russell Westbrook, revealing that he felt "inspired" by Westbrook's relentless work ethic during their eight seasons together. Durant shared a story on the social media platform X detailing a conversation he had with former Thunder coach Maurice "Mo" Cheeks.
Durant recalled asking Cheeks whether it was harder to "workout after practice or before??" He posed the question because he would consistently find Westbrook finishing his workouts in the morning. Cheeks responded that coming in before practice was likely the more challenging option, a routine Durant adopted thereafter.
"A lot of people looked at the emotions on the court, and though Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical," Durant wrote on X. He added that Westbrook always led by example, giving his all and experiencing "true freedom" on the court. "I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, just showed up," Durant stated. "For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent, and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent."
During their time as teammates in Oklahoma City, Westbrook and Durant were a formidable duo, reaching the Western Conference Finals five times and making an NBA Finals appearance in 2012 alongside James Harden. They ultimately lost that series to the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. Harden was later traded to the Houston Rockets.
Durant earned the league's MVP award in 2014. He and Westbrook advanced to the Western Conference Finals two more times in 2013 and 2017, both instances ending in elimination by the Golden State Warriors. Durant subsequently signed with the Warriors in free agency that offseason, sparking a significant on-court rivalry with Westbrook.
The Warriors, with Durant, went on to win two NBA championships in 2017 and 2018, with Durant being named Finals MVP in both victories. Westbrook secured his MVP award in 2017.
In his post, Durant alluded to potential regrets about his departure from Oklahoma City, writing, "Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent, and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent." He concluded his message by reminiscing about their time as teammates and sending his regards to Westbrook and his family, congratulating him on an "Iconic career."