Russell Westbrook’s old comments from a 2021 documentary called ‘Passion Play’ went viral on social media after a video resurfaced on the internet. Westbrook directly addressed the aftermath of Kevin Durant leaving the Thunder in 2016 to join the Warriors.
Subsequently, fans questioned Kevin Durant’s legacy as that video brought back a lot of ‘what-ifs’ for Thunder supporters. One fan account of three Thunder fans from Oklahoma University, named Boomer Backfield, decided to ping Durant and blame him for ruining his entire legacy with one decision.
“If you ask a boomer loser bout my legacy, then yes, it’s determined by that,” responded Durant on X, taking a subtle dig at the account’s name.
“I’m glad you have memories you can hold on to…At one point, I was more impactful on your life than your dad. I’ll take it,” the Rockets’ superstar replied after the account claimed they grew up watching Durant and wearing every sneaker he released from his brand.
“Don’t act so tough, my son. I still love you, too,” concluded Durant when the account accused him of ragebaiting.
Durant clearly believes that the circumstances of his exit from the Thunder to join their rivals in the Western Conference, the Warriors, do not diminish the greatness of what he accomplished with them during his time in Oklahoma.
But unfortunately, he is commonly blamed for ruining Russell Westbrook’s best chances at winning a championship in his career. After Durant left the Thunder, Westbrook went on a historic run where he averaged a triple-double in four out of the next five seasons from 2017 to 2021.
Westbrook averaged 21.5 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in his first eight seasons in the NBA with Durant. As soon as he left, in the next five seasons, he averaged 26.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 10.1 assists, therefore entering the prime phase of his career.
One could argue that since Durant’s exit gave Westbrook the full reins of the team, he became the central player to their offensive strategies in the game. But if Westbrook was able to do so much when Durant was not there, one can only imagine what the duo could have accomplished together.
Especially considering the trajectories both their careers have taken since they separated. While Westbrook has nearly cemented his future Hall of Fame status with Durant, he has not won a single NBA championship in his entire career. Fully opposite from Durant, who went on to win two championships and is still considered a top ten player in the NBA.
The directions in which their careers went after the duo separated make it justified that at least Westbrook fans, if not Thunder fans, are not happy with Durant.
Former Thunder Player On Russell Westbrook Facing Hate
Raymond Felton, the former NBA veteran, played for the Thunder after Durant left in 2016. He recently appeared on Theo Pinson’s podcast and spoke about Westbrook and how much disrespect he faces now.
“The man has been hated on and put to the side his entire career. This ain’t nothing he’s not used to. But how can you just disrespect the man and his loyalty to OKC? Even when KD left, he stayed loyal. And then what he did the next year,” said Felton while giving Westbrook his flowers.
“Everybody just wants to talk about that and wants to hold him to that. How are you going to hold him to that when he was doing so much greatness before that?” questioned Felton to critics who focus on Westbrook’s bumpy run with the Lakers.
At the end of the day, while Durant may have done what is right for him, his choices will put a small asterisk on his career for a selfish decision as a teammate.
