Russell Westbrook, James Harden give each other the silent treatment (Video)
By Ian O'Brien
Russell Westbrook and James Harden did not even say “hi” or “good luck” when crossing paths with each other before Game 1 of their playoff series.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets have just begun their first-round series. The two MVP frontrunners, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, lead their teams as they look to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.
It may be a stretch to say there is no love lost between Westbrook and Harden. However, they clearly do not focus on friendship when they are on the court. As this video shows, Harden and Westbrook did not say one word to each other on the court. They also do not plan to do so at all for this entire series.
The two superstar point guards used to play on the Thunder together. That became history after Harden was traded to the Rockets, though. Westbrook has emerged as an MVP frontrunner since the departure of Kevin Durant. Harden has also experienced his most remarkable season since the Rockets’ hiring of head coach Mike D’Antoni. The Rockets point guard has played like a superstar since taking the reins for Houston. His position switch has allowed him to seriously impact the game, though.
Harden led the NBA in assists per game with 11.2 per game while scoring 29.1 points per game. The five-time All-Star is no slouch when it comes to grabbing boards either. He has averaged 8.1 rebounds per game.
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Westbrook’s season is impossible to ignore too, though. The Thunder point guard carried his team to the playoffs by averaging a triple-double and breaking Oscar Robertson’s single-season triple-double record with 42. Westbrook averaged an astronomical 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game.