In the middle of the 2016-17 NBA regular season, there were few storylines as big as the apparent ongoing feud between former teammates turned rivals, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant had left Westbrook and the Thunder for the Warriors (and ultimately a title), and he was not well received in his return to Oklahoma City.
Durant endured “cupcake” chants, cupcake costumes, and all manner of other jabs at his character from those in OKC. Westbrook, for his part, didn’t do much in the way of discussing Durant, instead doing things like ignoring Durant for most of All-Star weekend. The two jawed at each other on the court, and Westbrook at one point said he wasn’t speaking with KD.
We haven’t heard much on the Durant-Westbrook front since before the playoffs, when Durant suggested that he’d like to get back to being friends with Russ, but after Westbrook took home his first MVP trophy on Monday night, Durant offered up a congratulatory message to Russ on his YouTube page.
“Huge congrats to Russell Westbrook on MVP, that boy went out there and was a created player on 2k all year, F***in balled out. Gotta respect it!”
It’s a nice gesture from Durant to acknowledge his former teammate’s incredible season and also a very good analogy comparing Russ to a video game player considering his ridiculous numbers this season. Durant joins Michael Jordan and Taylor Swift as those who have offered their congratulations to the newly-crowned league MVP. Durant also offered a prediction that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a future league MVP as well after the Bucks’ star earned Most Improved Player honors on Monday night, while also joking that he called Westbrook’s MVP win years ago.
“So happy for Malcolm Brogdon, what a year and accomplishment. Especially as a second round pick! Anything is possible people, I see a very bright future for him and his teammate Giannis. Congrats on MIP, this dude is a specimen that we’ve never seen before and it’s guaranteed that he will be an MVP one day! In fact, I called out this years MVP years ago so you gotta respect my knowledge for the game lol.”
We’ll have to wait and see if this helps bring the two former co-stars back together in friendship or if the awkwardness between the two will continue next season.
(h/t ESPN)
