Few storylines took as much air time as the fractured relationship between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook this season. After Durant’s decision to go to Golden State, what was once a well-covered friendship between the two former teammates turned into an icy relationship.
Things took a slight turn at the All-Star Game where the two were teammates on the Western squad once again. Apparently, things have improved even more since then.
In an appearance on Area 21 as part of TNT’s coverage of game four of the Warriors and Jazz series, Kendrick Perkins confirmed that the two had begun talking since Westbrook broke the record for most triple-doubles in a season.
Kendrick Perkins says on #KGAREA21 that Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook have been talking again after Russ broke the triple-double record. pic.twitter.com/gByPNvTKXp
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 9, 2017
Perkins:
“The night that Russ actually broke the record, I had text KD the next day […] and he said ‘Hey man, me and Russ had a nice conversation the other day.’ They’re back on talking terms, put their differences apart. And I wouldn’t be surprised if KD went back to Oklahoma cause, in my opinion, Russ isn’t going nowhere.”
This is obviously big news from multiple perspectives. Most important is that Russ and KD have become friendly again which is nice to see.
From a basketball perspective, however, Perkins’ prediction of Durant returning to Oklahoma City seems significant. As a former teammate of the duo and a confidant to both of them, Perkins seems connected to the whole situation. It could all be wild speculation from him, and it probably is, but it’s still worth noting that Perkins sees a Durant return to the Thunder as a distinct possibility, without considering the moves OKC would have to make to make it a possibility.
