While fans in Oklahoma City were busy showing that they still love Russell Westbrook, some of his former teammates were busy proving that there’s no love lost between then.
It all started when former Thunder center, Kendrick Perkins, tweeted out that Westbrook was the best to ever wear an Oklahoma City jersey, calling him “Mr. Thunder”.
In about 30 minutes I’m going to give my opinion on @SportsCenter on why Believe that Russell Westbrook is the best player to have ever put on a Oklahoma City Thunder Jersey!!! He is MR. THUNDER!!!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 9, 2020
Perkins countered Celtics personality Mark D’Amico, who hinted at the fact that Kevin Durant might be worthy of the title Mr. Thunder.
I think Russ walked right into the door called “Second Round of the Playoffs” – THREE STRAIGHT TIMES!
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) January 9, 2020
It was the last tweet that drew the attention of the player in question, Kevin Durant himself.
Yea and our starting center @KendrickPerkins averaged a whopping 2 and 3 during that series. U played hard tho champ lol
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 10, 2020
Perkins didn’t mince words when it came to telling KD how he felt about Durant leaving OKC to join Golden State back in 2016.
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 10, 2020
Durant, at first, seemed to be bored with the entire conversation.
But he wasn’t content to leave it there, instead, lobbing one final insult at his former teammate.
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 that you took the coward way out!!!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) January 10, 2020
Perkins got the last word (for now), essentially calling Durant a “coward” for joining a team that was 73-9 instead of staying in Oklahoma City and trying to win a championship with the Thunder.
Durant spent three seasons with the Warriors, winning back-to-back championships in 2016-17 and 2017-18 before rupturing his Achilles tendon in the 2019 NBA Finals. He then joined the Brooklyn Nets in free agency.
Perkins announced his retirement from the league in April 2019.