Injured Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has found something to do with his free time: start Twitter beefs with former teammates.
Durant’s decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016 was met with intense criticism. His Oklahoma City Thunder team, on which he co-starred with Russell Westbrook, had just pushed the 73-win Warriors to seven games in the Western Conference Finals.
Then, a month after blowing a 3-1 lead, Durant left Oklahoma City to join the team that had just beaten them — a squad that already included Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Many people were unhappy — Westbrook among them — and another critic revealed himself on Thursday: former Thunder center Kendrick Perkins.
Durant and Perkins were described as good friends as recently as this summer, when Perkins, now at ESPN, correctly predicted Durant would land with the Nets. But that relationship appeared to be tested Thursday night as Perkins tweeted an opinion that “Russell Westbrook is the best player to have ever put on an Oklahoma City Thunder jersey.”
After he was questioned about Westbrook’s lack of playoff success without Durant, Perkins continued, “KD lost in the second round without Russ when I was there. So what that mean?”
Durant, who has notoriously active Twitter fingers, was not about to be dragged without a fight.
“Yea and our starting center @KendrickPerkins averaged a whopping 2 and 3 during that series,” Durant replied. “U played hard tho champ lol.”
Things escalated from there. “Boy stop you did the weakest move in NBA History!!!” Perkins replied. “Up on a team 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals and then go join them the following season? Heart of Champion right there.”
“Weak is starting at center, playing real minutes with no production,” Durant retorted. “Should’ve worked on your skills as much as I did.”
Perkins got the last word: “That’s fine!!! You worked that hard and still had to go join a 73-9 team. Truth be told you don’t even feel like a real Champ, you have hard time sleeping at night huh knowing you took the coward way out!!!”
Loudest I’ve ever heard it when Russell Westbrook runs to the corner. Awesome that he did his Thunder pregame routine. pic.twitter.com/KsWHyWF6oY
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) January 10, 2020
The argument occurred in the background of Westbrook’s return to Oklahoma City, his first game back since being traded to the Houston Rockets in the offseason. Westbrook was greeted with overwhelming cheers, an “MVP!” chant and a tribute video — the first time the franchise had ever done that for a former player.
The scene was in stark contrast to Durant’s return to Chesapeake Energy Arena in 2017 after joining Golden State. The former MVP was booed mercilessly by the home crowd during that game, which also included a confrontation with Westbrook.
