HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 26: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets greets Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 26, 2017 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

Russell Westbrook, James Harden Talk on Friendship Ahead of Thunder vs. Rockets

Rob GoldbergApr 16, 2017

Russell Westbrook has complete focus heading into the upcoming playoff matchup against James Harden and the Houston Rockets.

While the Oklahoma City Thunder star has been friends with Harden since before they were in the NBA, that will be paused when the games begin.

"When I get on the floor, I got one friend, and that's the basketball," Westbrook explained, per Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

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Harden had good things to say about the duo's friendship prior to Game 1.

"Since 10 years old. That's never gonna change," the Rockets star explained.

The two knew each other growing up in Los Angeles and spent three years together with the Oklahoma City Thunder before Harden was traded to Houston in 2012. Now the two are rivals for the 2016-17 MVP award after each put together a historic season.

Before we learn the fate of the league's top individual award, the two teams will face off in their first-round series that begins Sunday in Houston.

For more news, rumors and related stories about Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the NBA, check out the NBA and Thunder streams on Bleacher Report's app.