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Russell Westbrook has no doubt basked in the odes that have fallen at his feet following his announcement of his retirement on Wednesday.
The former Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers and Suns guard was one of the most accomplished players in the league at his pomp. Few parties were more privy to his greatness than longtime teammate Kevin Durant.
Westbrook and Durant were titans of their generation, refining their gifts to become MVP-caliber talents. Things weren't always easy between the two, especially after Durant skipped town.
Still, the mutual respect between the duo has largely remained intact. On Thursday, Durant paid tribute to the departing guard, adding another chapter to what has been a long and winding relationship between the two.
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Kevin Durant's message to Russell Westbrook
Durant reminisced about his time with Westbrook, his foil for the better part of a decade. The aging wing and retired guard found ample success in Oklahoma City, leading the Thunder to five 50-win seasons, one 60-win season and a Finals berth in 2012.
The Rockets forward praised Westbrook for his demeanor and approach to preparing for games.
"A lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical," wrote on X. "He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom.
"It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years."
Much has been said abut Durant and Westbrook's relationship in the years after Durant's shock departure to Golden State in 2016. The Houston wing's message represents the latest of several olive branches sent between the pair in recent years.
"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," Durant wrote of his former teammate. "Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was."
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Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant history
Durant and Westbrook were wildly successful during their tenure with one another. According to ESPN Stats and Information, Westbrook assisted Durant 1,465 times from 2008-09 to 2015-16. No other duo reached 1,000 over those years.
Durant and Westbrook complemented each other in more ways than one. Durant was the high-scoring win capable of setting the net alight with a steady pour of mid-range and three-point baskets. Westbrook, meanwhile, made his mark above the rim, rocketing himself to the heavens before throwing down devastating jams. Both were just 20 when they suited up with one another for the first time.
"I felt like he was the guy ready to take on that challenge with me," Durant told ESPN in 2016. "The year I got drafted, they traded away Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, all the guys that wanted to start over with me, and I felt that the day he got drafted, Russ was the next piece to to help me to that."
Under their stewardship, Oklahoma City flourished, earning a Finals appearance four years after relocating from Seattle. The Larry O'Brien Trophy awaited in the near distance, half-awash in sunlight, smiling and winking at the duo as it collected All-Star appearances, All-NBA nods and deep postseason runs.
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Then, Durant darted elsewhere. He swapped colors for the Warriors in the 2016 offseason, putting his and Westbrook's relationship on pause. Westbrook responded with a vengeance, capturing MVP honors after recording an NBA-record 42 triple-doubles in 2017.
The nature of Durant's exit was perceived to create tension between he and Westbrook. However, their relationship appeared to thaw as the sting of Durant's dismissal and subsequent titles in Golden State melted away. By 2023, it was Westbrook claiming things were steady between he and Durant.
"I think people still think like there's some beef or something," Westbrook said, per ESPN. "There's no beef of any [kind], so I think that's the good narrative for media, for people to talk about.
"But there's no beef. I got nothing but respect for him and things he's done with his career and having to see him back from injury. There's no beef at all. But he knows I'm going to compete and I know he's going to compete and that's all it is."
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