8 years as teammates, you build that camaraderie with each other. The same was evident in the relationship Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook shared. There was a lot going on when Durant decided to part ways from OKC Thunder to move on to greener pastures, GSW at the time. Sparks of rivalry between Durant and Westbrook flew around, with constant narratives flowing in. But for Durant, it was nothing. It was mere speculation. And now, after years of hiding the details, Damian Lillard digs into the past to share untold stories.

On the Club 520 podcast, the celebrated Point Guard shared that during his early years in the NBA, Russell Westbrook made a strong impression on him as a “bully,” particularly when facing off against him. Lillard recalled that a game wouldn’t go by, during his first two years, when the then-OKC point guard wouldn’t attempt to “give me 50”. Of course, this was something that irked Kevin Durant a little. Westbrook’s tendency to dominate the shots to boost his scoring frustrated Durant.

“He would be shooting on me so much, that KD (Kevin Durant) would be getting mad like ‘Pass the ball’. Like, he’s shooting every time,” Lillard said. “And once I realized that it was like that, that’s when I started taking it personally. I know he always on go against everybody, but he really trying to like come get me.”

Westbrook maintained his intensity against Lillard, averaging 30.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game in their matchups. Despite Westbrook’s dominance, the OKC Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers split their games 4-4, with Lillard averaging 19 points.

Kevin Durant acknowledged Westbrook’s competitive nature, stating in April 2023. “I think Russ is competitive against any player he plays against. I don’t think it was just specific to me. Russ is that way. I’ve played with for so long and watched him for so long that he was that way against everybody so I don’t expect anything different”. 

While Durant hasn’t explicitly said if Westbrook’s competitiveness influenced his departure from OKC, their first meeting as rivals was intense. Westbrook, fueled by the Chesapeake Energy Arena (now Paycom Center) crowd, engaged in verbal exchanges with Durant, culminating in a forehead-to-forehead confrontation. Westbrook later stated, “On the court, I have no friends. The only friend I have is the basketball. That’s it.”

Whatever tensions existed between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant seem to have been long gone now. After all, what other reason could there be for the duo’s trash talk, which sparked laughter from those within earshot?

“I don’t want no problems gangsta” – Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant broke the tension during a Suns-Clippers game

By January 2024, Durant and Westbrook were with new franchises but remained rivals on the court. Despite this, they made efforts to rekindle their camaraderie and dispel any rumors of lingering animosity.

During a Suns-Clippers matchup, Durant approached the Clippers’ bench and exchanged playful words with Westbrook, causing the entire Clippers squad to burst into laughter. Westbrook teased, “I am coming”. Durant replied by stating, “I don’t want no problems gangsta.”

The “I’m Coming” remark, once a popular taunt from Russell Westbrook directed at Kevin Durant, has since evolved into a point of shared amusement between the two players. What was once a fierce retort has now become a source of laughter and camaraderie.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.