NBA playoffs: Clippers’ Russell Westbrook denies ‘beef’ with Suns’ Kevin Durant

Whatever animosity was created by Kevin Durant’s decision to abandon Russell Westbrook and Oklahoma City for Golden State in 2016 seems to be a forgotten memory as the two prepare to face off in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

“I think people still think there’s some beef or something. There is no beef,” Westbrook, the Los Angeles Clippers guard, told reporters about Phoenix Suns forward Durant ahead of Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday. “I have nothing but respect for him and the things he’s done in his career.”

The two have known each other for almost twenty years. Durant and Westbrook were drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2007 and 2008, respectively, before the team fled to Oklahoma City in 2008 and became the Thunder. Almost immediately, they became one of the NBA’s most formidable duos, reaching the NBA Finals in 2012 before Durant won an MVP in 2013-14.

But after the Thunder blew a 3-1 lead to the Warriors in the 2016 Western Conference Finals, Durant jumped ship and signed a two-year, $54.3 million deal with Golden State, sparking rumors of friction between him and Westbrook. .

Now, though, Westbrook insists there’s no friction, even saying he’s “happy to see Durant back from his recent pre-match ankle injury in the first round.”

The Clippers’ Russell Westbrook (left) says he’s out of “beef” with the Suns’ Kevin Durant (right)

Durant (left) and Westbrook (right) reached the 2012 NBA Finals together in Oklahoma City

Westbrook hasn’t exactly been the Art Garfunkel of Durant’s Paul Simon since their split in 2016. The former UCLA guard went on to win the 2017 MVP in his first season without Durant, but his status as one of the NBA’s top guards has suffered from stints with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Lakers.

It was the Lakers who traded Westbrook at the deadline for the Utah Jazz, who reached a buyout deal with the nine-time All-Star, who promptly returned to Los Angeles on a one-year deal with the Clippers.

Durant, meanwhile, won two titles with the Warriors before signing a free contract with the Brooklyn Nets, who traded him to Phoenix at the deadline. He played in only eight games with the Suns due to his ankle injury, but he looked strong, making 53.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and averaging 26 points per night.

The Clippers defeated the Suns on Sunday to clinch the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs — and a first-round matchup with Phoenix.

Unfortunately for LA, another of Westbrook’s former Thunder teammates won’t be healthy enough for Game 1 on Sunday.

Clippers All-Star Paul George will miss at least the beginning of the series as he recovers from the knee injury he suffered last month.

The 32-year-old sprained his knee in Oklahoma City on March 21 — two days after Durant sprained his ankle in the same building.

But while Durant has returned from his injury, George can only hope so. On Sunday, he tweeted, “I’m going to give it every chance I get.”