Where is the proof for this? You can just as easily say we lost Aldridge to free agency because of Dame. Man, your level of hatred for Russ is really unfounded. He's a polarizing figure, but he will also win MVP this season. He's not Ricky Davis or Andray Blatche in terms of stat chasers.
Proof, you mean like a smoking gun? Durant isn't stupid enough to publicly say he left OKC because Russ is a selfish ballhog who cares more about his own stats than winning. But, all the evidence is there and there are plenty of articles that describe the tension between the two. Ultimately, do you think if Durant was happy playing with Westbrook and felt they had ANY chance of winning a championship he would have taken less money to go to GSW?
Here's just one article on the topic. If you want more, just google why did Kevin Durant leave OKC.
Saturday Shows Why Kevin Durant Left Russell Westbrook
ESPN said:
That miniature exchange exemplified Durant’s frustration in playing alongside Westbrook for those eight years with the Thunder. It was always, “I’m coming. I’m coming.” Meanwhile, the team wasn’t going anywhere.
The constant disconnect on the court with the Thunder, particularly on the offensive end, began to wear on Durant mentally as early as their second season together, league sources told ESPN. Throughout his OKC tenure, Durant asked for more ball movement. At times, it looked like the Thunder might have turned the corner, but it was never sustained.
Durant desired continuity and teammates willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. After nine seasons with the franchise, he wasn’t convinced that would ever occur.
Durant and Westbrook were never the best of friends. They were good teammates, similar to good neighbors. It seemed Westbrook wanted the numbers; Durant wanted the wins.
It was always an internal clash, piled on top of the 82-game clash with the opposition. Their objectives were different, and for that reason, the pairing could no longer go on.
Don't like articles and quotes from sources close to the team (no one will ever say anything on record, or they will be fired like Kim Hughes), just go back and look at the game logs and stats for the 4th quarters of playoff games where Westbrook consistently froze out the more efficient scoring Durant. This goes all the way back to their second season together in OKC and continued right up until they blew a 3-1 lead against GSW last year.
Just go back and look at the stats for their 2012 finals series against MIA. In that series, Durant got 104 FGA to Westbrook's 120. Durant shot .548 FG% and .394 3FG%. Westbrook shot .433 FG% and .136 3FG%, yet he constantly called his own number more than Durant's especially in the 4th quarter when Durant would often go several minutes without touching the ball on offense. Durant was always a far more efficient scorer than Westbrook, but with the game on the line, Westbrook consistently resorted to hero ball. The bigger the stage the more Russ craved, make that demanded, the spotlight - always to the detriment of his team.
That's just one example, but it was part of a pattern that was repeated year after year after year until Durant had had enough and left. He was unhappy playing with Russ and knew he could never win a championship with Russ playing hero ball and freezing him out. He was right. I've been saying the same thing for years and also predicted back in 2012 that Durant would eventually get fed up with Westbrook's me first attitude and flee OKC.
But hey, triple doubles, MVP! MVP! MVP, slurp, slurp go the fan boys. Sure, Westbrook is an amazing physical talent that puts up video game like numbers. Too bad there is also a mental aspect to the game that will always hold Westbrook back. He will never trust his teammates when it matters. He will always try to do too much and he will always fail. He'll continue to have gaudy stats (both good and bad - 47.0 USG% and 6.0 TOV/G in that HOU series), but will never win anything. Basketball is still a team sport and Westbrook just isn't a team player.
BNM
