DALLAS, TX — Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook being selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game is nothing new. Prior to this year’s edition on Feb. 14 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, KD has been an All-Star six times while Russ has been to the midseason classic on four occasions.
But this year’s event will be extra special for this dynamic duo from the Oklahoma City Thunder for two big reasons. First of all, Durant and Westbrook will both be starting for the Western Conference squad, making OKC the only team in the Association with two starters in this year’s event.
“I’m just happy to be part of it again. It’s my seventh one and they never get old. The kids in my neighborhood, we used to watch All-Star Weekend all the time and All-Star Games all the time, so for me to be an All-Star and represent Oklahoma City, represent where I grew up with my family, it’s a dream come true,” Durant said after a morning shootaround in Dallas on Friday.
Westbrook was equally grateful about being named an All-Star again, especially about being named a starter for the first time.
“It’s crazy, man. It’s like a true blessing honestly to see that fans and people all across the world vote for me to be a starter. It’s something that I definitely don’t take for granted. It’s something I definitely appreciate and can’t say thank you enough,” Westbrook said.
Durant admits being chosen for the 2016 event is even more special considering the injury issues he battled for much of last season, when he was limited to just 27 games. One thing that kept him going during his recovery was the goal to return to his rightful place among the NBA’s elite players, something which he’s done by being an All-Star yet again.
“It’s amazing. I was out for a long time. You doubt yourself a little bit, it’s a part of it. To be back on that level, I feel like I 100 percent deserve it, it just feels great,” Durant said. “To be [starting] alongside my teammate is even better. It’s great to be back amongst the guys that are the top of the league. To be part of that company, it just shows how much work I’ve put in from recovery to training camp to the regular season to stay at that level, to get back to that level. It’s cool to be part of.”
First-year Thunder head coach Billy Donovan has been coaching KD and Russ for less than a full calendar year, but in their short time together, he continues to be impressed with the professionalism, work ethic and determination his dynamic duo brings not just to games but also to practices.
And like any coach, Donovan is quite pleased to see his two star players get rewarded for their hard work.
“I’m really happy for those two guys. I think Russell’s had a very, very efficient year so far. He’s played really, really good basketball. He’s done a lot of different things. Obviously, Kevin the same thing,” Donovan said.
“Those guys are a great pair to coach and be around every day. They’ve been very helpful for me. I’m just happy for them because the one thing I respect and admire is their seriousness and work ethic each and every day and how important the game and winning is to them, and I’m just happy they’re being rewarded for their own individual play and the play of the team.”
Starting an All-Star Game alongside a teammate is an impressive feat in itself, but if this year’s event will be remembered for anything, it’s that this will mark the final ASG appearance of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who’s retiring at the end of the season.
Bryant will also start for the West alongside KD and Russ, filling out a starting five also featuring reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry of the league champion Golden State Warriors and former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs.
Starting Kobe’s final All-Star Game is an experience neither Durant nor Westbrook take lightly.
“It’s a legacy deal, man. It’s his last season, of course he should be voted in. He’s a legend. He’s our era’s MJ and he deserves to be in there. It’s going to be a fun time and I can’t wait to hear his name called on the All-Star stage and hear everybody cheer. That’s how he should go out,” Durant said.
Naturally, Westbrook agrees.
“That feels great, man. Having him playing in the game is going to be a crazy and exciting moment and that’s definitely a great, great honor to be in his last game,” Westbrook said.
Westbrook is the reigning ASG MVP and were he to repeat as MVP in Toronto, then he’d become the first back-to-back winner of the award.
But that’s not exactly a scenario the OKC guard has envisioned.
“That’d be crazy. I didn’t think about it last year and this year, I’m not going to think about it again, just try to go have fun, enjoy the break and get back to the regular season,” Westbrook said.
And Durant, who like Westbrook is a fan favorite, took a quick moment to talk about the fans and the significance of having him and Russ both chosen to be starters.
“[It shows that] the fans, they really respect us and what we do. As long as you’re on the team [that’s what matters], that’s what I always say. I think a lot of guys deserve to be All-Stars, but there’s only a couple spots,” Durant said. “We deserve to be up there and the fans think we deserve the same thing.”