Prior to their collision in Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs today, Russell Westbrook is putting his friendship with Houston Rockets guard James Harden aside, claiming his focus is zeroed-in on victory.
The two MVP candidates played together for three seasons in Oklahoma City and have known each other since they were 10 years old, keeping a strong bond through the years despite being on different teams of late.
Westbrook's maniacal competitiveness starts with his war-like mentality as he steps onto NBA hardwood, easily separating foes from allies.
“When I get on the floor I got one friend and that's the basketball,” Westbrook told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. “I've been like that since I was a little kid. My dad told me that when I was younger: ‘You got one friend and your friend is Spalding.'”
“At the time maybe it was Wilson or some other s***. Whatever the ball is, that's who my friend is.”
Is that very mind frame that propelled Westbrook into one of the best seasons the NBA has seen in the past 55 years, averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals through 81 games in the regular season.
The No. 6-seeded Thunder will need to pull out all the stops to steal a game on the road against the No. 3-seeded Rockets, and Westbrook seems to be going into it with a war-like approach.
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