Kevin Durant Reacts to Playoff Matchup With Russell Westbrook

Former teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are set to face off as playoff opponents in the first round. The LA Clippers and Pheonix Suns will play the Western Conference's 4-5 matchup, which sets up Durant vs. Westbrook for the first time in postseason play.

When asked about his previous matchups against Westbrook, Durant said, "I think Russ is competitive against any player he plays against. I don’t think it was just specific to me. I think a lot of the fans and the people that were watching, it was high-intensity for them, it was entertainment for them. For us players, it’s just another game, it’s regularly scheduled programming. But Russ is that way. I’ve played with him for so long and watched him for so long, he was that way against everybody. So I don’t expect anything different."

"I think Russ is competitive against whoever he plays against."

Kevin Durant on facing Russell Westbrook in the playoffs. #Suns #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/lDpcdJSp1q
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 12, 2023

Westbrook was asked about the matchup with Durant at Wednesday's practice, and said, "It will be normal for me. I think people still think like there's some beef or something. There's no beef of any [kind], so I think that's the good narrative for media for people to talk about, but there's no beef. I got nothing but respect for him and things he's done with his career and having to see him back from injury. There's no beef at all. But he knows I'm gonna compete and I know he's gonna compete and that's all it is."

There is a clear level of mutual resect between Durant and Westbrook, and their individual matchup adds another level of intrigue to this first round series.

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