Kevin Durant Says Friendship With Russell Westbrook ‘Won’t Ever Be The Same’

It was all good a few weeks ago as Kevin Durant was expected to re-sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder before free agency began. It all changed on July 4th, when Durant turned the NBA world on its side, and joined the Golden State Warriors on a two year contract. After eight years of grinding together, the Thunder buddies are split up with nothing to show for it. For the first time in their careers, Durant and Russell Westbrook will be opponents when they take the court next season. With Durant taking his talents to California, the KD-Westbrook relationship will be forever fractured.

The newest splash brother spoke to Sina Sports in China while visiting to promote the KD Nike brand this week.

“I just told him. I let him know how I felt,” Durant said of his conversation with Westbrook. “Obviously, our relationship won’t ever be the same again. But it’s something I wanted to do, and I expressed that to him. Hopefully he respected it.”

Durant also talked about how he eventually will have to get used to being the new “villains” of the NBA this upcoming season.

“Yeah, it’s difficult. I’m not used to this much attention, but I’m getting used to it,” Durant said. “Obviously, people don’t like me right now, but it is what it is. I can’t please them all. I’ve got to still go out there and handle my business.”

Durant said the main goal of winning a championship is what drove him to join the Warriors. “I want to win a championship, but you’ve got to play great basketball to win a championship,” Durant said to Sina Sports. “Those guys were so close last year, so they’re hungry this year to get back. I want to help them. I want to be the guy that takes them over the top.”

What does this all mean for the brodie Westbrook? He already said he would not sign an extension before or during the 2016 season. Do the Thunder go into a total rebuild and trade their only star left? Now it’s time for Russ to be the selfish one and make the best decision for himself going forward, as a free agent next summer.

When we look back at their respective careers when it’s all said and done, one can only wonder what could have been for the Westbrook/Durant tandem.

If you can’t beat em’ join em’.