If you thought Kevin Durant’s alley-oop pass to Russell Westbrook in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game was a sign the former teammates were over their apparent beef, well, you’re probably wrong.
Durant downplayed the play during a halftime interview, and Westbrook didn’t sound like someone who was ready to bury the hatchet when asked after the game about the highlight-reel connection.
In fact, the Oklahoma City Thunder star made things really awkward with a reporter after the game, suggesting that perhaps he still holds a grudge against Durant, who left OKC in free agency this past offseason and signed with the Golden State Warriors.
First, the play…
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook teamed up for an alley-oop in the NBA All-Star Game as the @StateFarm Right Combination. pic.twitter.com/VdxalwDYcH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2017
Now, the bench’s reaction…
If you're wondering what it sounded like on the Western Conference bench when KD and Russ reconnected… #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/ueqcoH7XWR
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 20, 2017
And Durant’s reaction to the bench’s reaction…
"Those guys are funny, man…" #KevinDurant responds to #TeamWest bench celebration #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/bfXIHnwgmH
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 20, 2017
Finally, here is Westbrook making things weird with the media…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHiyH6HrT4c
It wasn’t icy. But it also wasn’t a warm reunion, by any means.
Maybe Westbrook was just messing around after the game. Or maybe he’s still pissed at Durant for leaving him behind in search of greener pastures.
Or maybe — just maybe — we’re making way too much of this rivalry … yeah, that’s probably it.
