TORONTO – Less than 12 hours after finishing off an emphatic home win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Thunder duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were on the move in Toronto. Bouncing from station to station for the NBA All-Star Weekend’s introductory media availability, Durant, a seven-time All-Star, and Westbrook, a five-time All-Star, were peppered with questions about all sorts of topics from media all over the globe.
From Indonesia to Japan to Greece, and of course the United States and Canada, media flocked to ask Durant and Westbrook about their 2015-16 seasons, Sunday night’s All-Star game and the festivities that Toronto will host over the next few days.
The major storyline for Thunder fans is that despite a combined 12 All-Star appearances, this will be the first time that both Durant and Westbrook were voted in together to be starters for the Western Conference. As the team’s settle in for the jump ball on Sunday at the Air Canada Centre, Thunder fans will see two-fifths of their own Thunder starting lineup on the court.
“To be a starter with some of the greatest players and your teammates, its storybook,” Durant said.
“It’s a blessing to be voted in,” said Westbrook, making his first All-Star start after winning the game’s MVP award last year in New York City. “I honestly never thought I would ever be voted into the All-Star Game as a starter. It shows the fan base and shows the support system the fans have given me over the last year or so. I’m thankful for that and it’s been a great experience for me thus far.”
For Durant, a good portion of the focus was on the hard work that he put in over the summer in order to recover from foot surgery and managing to perform with incredible efficiency. Closing in on another season of 50-40-90 shooting splits, Durant has also rebounded the ball and dished it to teammates at staggeringly productive levels.
Westbrook, over the course of the years, has never caved to any pressure to be anything other than himself and that has been what’s led to perhaps his most efficient and effective season in his career. With unparalleled athleticism, size, speed and strength for the position, Westbrook already had the physical tools to be great in the league. Over time he’s continually learned the fine points and minute details of every position on the floor in order to not just elevate his game, but put his teammates in positions to succeed.
“Every year it’s trying to find ways to expand my game,” Westbrook said. “It’s been finding ways to make other guys better. That’s most important to me, to see other guys’ games expand at the same time our team is expanding, and to see other guys grow.”
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Thunder Pair a Hit at Jr. NBA Day
As soon as media availability finished, Durant and Westbrook slipped downstairs, out of the hotel and into vehicles that brought them to the Enercare Center, and a sight neither of them could have probably imagined.
In a massive building skirting the western edge of Lake Ontario, 2,500 children of all ages were sprinkled around 40 basketball courts to take part in the Jr. NBA Day. The Thunder All-Stars were in awe of all of the activations, coaching and engagement that the children were able to benefit from during the afternoon.
“That’s what the All-Star Game is all about,” Durant said. “It’s amazing the way we give back. The NBA does so much to help communities out.”
Watch: Durant, Westbrook Lead Jr. NBA Day in Toronto
On one end of the full court, Durant led a group of about 30 children on one basket, and Westbrook did the same on the other hoop. From layup lines to jump shots to ball-handling, the children were given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be taught by NBA All-Stars. One young child’s inquisitiveness piqued Durant’s interest, so they spent a bit of time talking in an interview setting.
“He just knew the game on another level,” Durant said. “He was asking questions and it’s good to be curious at that age about the game. I tried to give him some insight on what I know as a player. Hopefully he takes it back and learns from the opportunity and learns from the experience and hopefully it catapults him into some dreams that he didn’t know he had.”
Westbrook was all smiles on the other side of the court, pretending to play defense while encouraging the children to keep working on their game. Durant finished the session with some advice to youngsters not just in Canada, but all over the globe:
“Follow your dreams and have fun while doing it. It’s an amazing journey,” Durant said. “There are a lot of peaks and valleys but if you’re willing to go through it all, you’re going to reap the benefits at the end. Stay with it and enjoy it along the way.