Russell Westbrook may have respected Kevin Durant's decision to join the rival Golden State Warriors, but KD knows that the bond he and Westbrook shared as teammates in Oklahoma City is forever changed.
"Obviously, our relationship probably won't ever be the same again," Durant told reporters in China on Wednesday.
"But it's something that I wanted to do, and I expressed that to him. Hopefully he respected it."
Durant acknowledged that there is a different vibe around him since his decision to join the 73-win Warriors, and said he's getting used to the antagonist role when asked about his hero-to-villain turn by one reporter.
"It's difficult, because I'm not used to this much attention, but I'm getting used to it. Obviously, people don't like me right now, but it is what it is. I can't please them all.
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"I've gotta go out there and still handle my business. They're not gonna get up at 9 o'clock in the morning and work on my game. I've gotta do all that on my own. I can't really worry about people on the outside and the noise that's going on, because I've got to go to sleep at night, and I've got to get up, and I've gotta perform. I've gotta do all that stuff, so it is what it is. Once we start playing the games, I'll feel a little bit better. Right now, it's definitely a change."
Durant spent nine seasons with the Thunder - eight with Westbrook by his side - securing four scoring titles, an MVP award, seven All-Star selections, and a trip to the NBA finals in 2012.
