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Westbrook, Harden Friendship on Hold During Series
![Russell_Westbrook_Thunder_2017_AP_3](https://www.basketballinsiders.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Russell_Westbrook_Thunder_2017_AP_3.jpg.webp)
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