Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook’s partnership at Oklahoma remains one of the most electrifying chapters in NBA history. For eight seasons from 2008-2016, the duo redefined the Oklahoma City Thunder’s transitioning basketball, combining Durant’s generational scoring dominance with Westbrook’s verticality and speed.
How Russell Westbrook’s Explosiveness Shaped Kevin Durant’s Confidence on the Court
The Duo’s eventual split in 2016 dominated headlines after Durant left, ending his 9-year tenure with the team to join the Golden State Warriors. The franchise traded Westbrook in 2019 to the Houston Rockets for Chris Paul, giving both the team and Westbrook a fresh chance at contending for the NBA title after a long period of stagnation and no results.
During the duo’s tenure, the Thunder were a powerhouse, often forcing their opponents into a constant state of retreat inside the rectangle. But Kevin Durant’s latest comment shows how he and the teammates would also “retreat” when faced with Westbrook’s explosive athleticism.
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“Playing with Russ, I ain’t never seen somebody jump that high, run that fast or be that explosive ever on anything in my life. To see that up close every night and know that he has a physical advantage over every point guard he played against. I had the utmost confidence walking into every game. Like my man is coming to go hard over everybody,” said Kevin Durant on the “Knuckleheads podcast” with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles.
Highlighting Westbrook’s physical versatility, Durant shared how Westbrook often went to a point where everybody would just go like “Chill for a second.”
Kevin Durant on playing with Russell Westbrook
“Playing with Russ I ain’t never seen somebody jump that high, run that fast or be that explosive ever on anything in my life. I had the most upmost confidence walking into every game.”
(h/t @TheWestbrookEra)pic.twitter.com/XhYTgtzklL
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 14, 2026
Durant and Westbrook played together in 526 games for the Thunder, posting a 331-195 record (.629 winning percentage), including the 2012 NBA Finals and four Western Conference Finals. Durant averaged 28.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists while shooting at an efficiency of 48.9% from the floor and 38.7% from deep, and bagged the 2014 NBA MVP award.
Westbrook followed closely with 20.7 PPG, 7.5 APG, and 5.4 RPG, with 43.7% shooting from the field and 30.4% from the arc, and won the 2017 NBA MVP.
Since leaving OKC, both stars have continued to rewrite the record books. Durant, now acting as the veteran anchor for the Houston Rockets, recently became the sixth player in the NBA to reach 32,000 career points. Meanwhile, Westbrook has also found a vital role with the Sacramento Kings and is currently leading the NBA’s Most Triple-Doubles list with 208 triple-doubles (still counting*).
While both stars are now Western Conference rivals, Durant’s comment proves their brotherhood remains intact, defined by the mutual respect built during their initial yet dominant years.
