Russell Westbrook: Kevin Durant Gives Hotheaded PG Much-Needed Reality Check

Kevin Durant finally had enough of Russell Westbrook losing his cool in situations that do not warrant an emotional outburst and let the point guard know.

According to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman, the two Oklahoma City Thunder superstars got into a verbal altercation during a timeout in the second quarter of their team’s 98-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Westbrook got this all started by acting immature and selfish because he screamed, “shoot the (expletive-ing) ball” at Thabo Sefolosha after he hesitated to hoist up a three-pointer that was kicked to him in the corner.

First of all, what could he have possibly been thinking to yell that during an NBA game? Especially during the second quarter of an early-season matchup that is relatively meaningless?

Second, did he realize he was hollering at THABO SEFOLOSHA? The guy isn’t Ray Allen or Reggie Miller. He’s barely over 30 percent from long range in his career and takes maybe one or two a game at most. He’s on the court to be a defensive stopper, not an offensive weapon.

Durant, Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins attempted to reason with the sour young man at the free-throw line shortly after, but a timeout one minute later led to more fighting.

The Durantula once again tried to calm the fiery PG near the bench but Westbrook completely lost it and the two started screaming at each other and had to be separated.

It’s good to see KD finally stepping up and taking a vocal leadership role on this Thunder team and putting a lunatic like Westbrook in his place when he’s out of line.

Sure, the UCLA product is a good player and would star on most teams, but he needs to realize he is a second banana here behind Durant. If he wants derail team morale by screaming at defensive specialists to jack three-pointers, he needs to expect an earful from the head honcho.

The fact that the Thunder won despite Westbrook’s four point, six assist, three rebound, four turnover performance highlighted by an 0-of-13 shooting performance proves that KD can carry this team and is unquestionably their leader.

There shouldn’t be a next time for Westbrook to get out of line like this, but if there is, expect Durant to quickly end it once again. 

It's simply unacceptable behavior and No. 35 will not tolerate it. It's his team and he's finally not afraid to show it.