Kevin Durant is openly admitting he struggled to accept Russell Westbrook’s retirement from the NBA, and man, it just hits different when one of the legends hangs it up. Westbrook, who called it a career in 2026, left a massive void, and it’s clear it’s messing with KD.
That Legendary Duo: A Look Back at the OKC Days
Durant and Westbrook, remember them? They were one of the best partnerships, seriously a legendary duo that made the Oklahoma City Thunder perennial contenders. Those two superstars were electric. But like all good things, it ended with a bang when Durant made that huge move to the Golden State Warriors in 2016. What a gut punch that was, ending one of the best duos we’ve seen in recent NBA history. After KD left, Westbrook absolutely blew up, becoming an even bigger star and snatching up an MVP award in 2017. Unfortunately, the back half of his career saw him become an NBA journeyman, eventually leading to his retirement this year. Durant, on the other hand, grabbed two rings with the Warriors, though we all know those titles are still debated by a lot of folks who called it an “easy way out.” Despite all the bad blood from his exit, it seems like KD and Westbrook are good friends now. Westbrook is even still friendly with Durant’s mom, Wanda. It’s a sad end for one of this generation’s best, but he clearly stepped away on his own terms.
Durant’s Reality Check: The Game Comes for Everyone
Westbrook’s retirement is a serious reality check for Durant. He knows he’s getting old too, having been in the league since 2007. That’s almost two decades, wild right? He’s not planning on stepping away anytime soon, but this Westbrook news is huge for him. Speaking on Boardroom Talks, Durant said, “It just hit me, man, because it’s just like that’s one of the first dudes you come in with and you was around every day to finally step out of this. You know what I’m saying? It’s just like a lot of guys that have been younger than me or drafted after me have retired, but I wasn’t as close to them as I was to Russell.” It’s a blow, a stark reminder that his generation is aging out. But you can never fault Durant’s love for basketball. Even with Westbrook gone, KD is just taking it step by step, fully committed to keeping his game going. He wants to keep playing, simple as that.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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