Westbrook on Durant's exit: Found out 'like y'all'
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook on Tuesday said he found out about Kevin Durant‘s departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder “like y’all found out.”
“On the news, on the cell phones, the social media,” Westbrook said Thursday during a news conference to announce an extension with the Thunder that is potentially worth $85.7 million over the next three seasons. “I talked to Kevin early on in the process. But nothing after. Just a text message from him, that’s about it.”
After eight seasons together, Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors on July 4. The Thunder led Golden State 3-1 in the Western Conference finals before losing in Game 7.
Asked if Durant choosing the Warriors stings more, Westbrook was blunt.
“Sting for who?” he said, smiling.
“Listen, I understand free agency,” Westbrook said. “I understand having the opportunity to go where we need to go. But once that happened, I told [GM] Sam [Presti], ‘What’s next?’ To me, that’s just my mentality: What’s the next thing we need to do to help our team win. That’s all I’m worried about, to find ways to come in and figure out ways to make the team become a great organization.”
Asked if he was surprised the way Durant handled his free agency, Westbrook said he was: “Some people handle things differently than others and that’s the way he wanted to handle it, which is fine.”
In their eight seasons together, Durant and Westbrook appeared in four conference finals and one NBA Finals. As teammates, they blossomed into one of the most successful and potent duos in the NBA.
However, since Durant’s decision, he and Westbrook have not spoken.
“We’d been together eight years,” Westbrook said. “You don’t throw that away. Obviously he’s now with a new team. But we definitely will talk eventually. But obviously now we haven’t.”
Westbrook was asked if he’s anticipating forthcoming matchups against Durant and the Warriors.
“Do you want to say it or do you want me to say it?” he said. “You know what I’m going to say.
“Like I said before, no game is no bigger, no less, no player, no place. I stand behind that because I play every game like it’s my last. I go out to compete regardless of who’s on the floor, regardless of if we’re playing Golden State, Philadelphia, Milwaukee. It doesn’t matter to me. My job is to go out and compete for our team.”
In Rio de Janeiro, where he is part of the U.S. men’s Olympic team, Durant said he wouldn’t immediately be reaching out to Westbrook to discuss his decision to stay in Oklahoma City.
“Nah, that’s a touchy deal,” Durant said. “At some point, we’ll sit down and talk. But I don’t know when.”
Asked if he was happy for Westbrook, Durant said he was.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
