Westbrook, Harden Friendship on Hold During Series

Russell Westbrook and James Harden are close. Their relationship goes back way before their Oklahoma City days, when they were teammates from 2009 to ’12. But their friendship takes a back seat when they step on the court this week. At least in Westbrook’s eyes.

“When I get on the floor, I got one friend, and that’s the basketball,” Westbrook said before the Thunder’s 118-87 loss to the Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference playoff series. “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.”

Source: Ramona Shelburne of ESPN