Kevin Durant Responds to Mark Cuban Saying Russell Westbrook Isn't a Superstar

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wasn't ready to call Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook a superstar before Game 5 of the teams' playoff series, but he might be after Westbrook dominated Monday's contest.

Before the game, Cuban said Durant was Oklahoma City's only superstar and that Westbrook is "an All-Star but not a superstar," per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com.

Westbrook finished with 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists as the Thunder eliminated Dallas with a 118-104 victory. When asked about Cuban's comments after the game, Westbrook's teammate Kevin Durant said the following, per MacMahon: "He's an idiot. Don't listen to him."

Cuban explained how he differentiated All-Stars from superstars, per Erik Horne of the Oklahoman:

"

You look at Dirk [Nowitzki] all those years to now, he carries teams to 50 wins. To me, that's [what makes a superstar] ... when [you're] by yourself ... it wasn't until we got J-Kidd [Jason Kidd] that we had another Hall of Famer. So, to go the 15 years where Dirk won 50, that's a superstar. There's only a few guys that you put them on any team and they'll win 50 games. To me that's the definition of a superstar.

"

Cuban is clearly biased when it comes to Nowitzki because the German is the face of his franchise and helped the Mavericks win the NBA title in 2011.

The crux of Cuban's argument seems to be that Westbrook needs Durant to win 50 games, but fans haven't gotten the opportunity to see the latter work much without his point guard either. Durant is an otherworldy talent, but he also gets plenty of open shots because opposing defenses are forced to divert so much attention Westbrook's way, especially when he penetrates.

Westbrook posted 23.5 points, 10.4 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest this season. He also tallied 18 triple-doubles, which Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info) noted tied him with Magic Johnson for the third-most in the last 50 seasons.

Those types of numbers typically draw MVP arguments, though Stephen Curry is the clear favorite after leading the Golden State Warriors to a record-setting 73-9 season.

Westbrook was even more impressive from a scoring standpoint last season, when he led the league with 28.1 points per game with Durant sidelined for most of the year with injuries. Westbrook is also a five-time All-Star and two-time All-Star Game MVP who has been named to four All-NBA second teams.

Durant is a seven-time All-Star and won the NBA MVP Award in 2013-14. He's also been named to five All-NBA first teams and has won four scoring titles.

Since he entered the league in 2008, Westbrook has always had Durant as a teammate, and Durant only played 2007-08 without Westbrook. They played with James Harden when Oklahoma City reached the 2012 NBA Finals.

Westbrook, a former UCLA Bruin, may get the chance to be the sole leader of the Thunder if Durant joins another team this offseason. The former Texas Longhorn is set to be an unrestricted free agent, per Spotrac. That would give Westbrook the reins, though he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2016-17 season, per Spotrac.

Durant and Westbrook may have played together for most of their careers, but the latter has proved time and again that he is one of the NBA's elite players.   

Cuban got a firsthand look at that Monday.