The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stars mum about reunion
Westbrook talks about fashion when asked about Durant.
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant had plenty to say at their first media appearances at All-Star weekend. Just not about one another. Reunited on the Western Conference All-Star team, the former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates — until Durant left for Golden State last summer — will have to practice together today and play together Sunday night.
If either of them expects it to be awkward — particularly after the way they jawed at one another in a recent game — they weren’t discussing it Friday.
Westbrook smirked and responded to questions about any potential awkward interaction with Durant or the other Warriors with thoughts on New York City’s Fashion Week.
“Man, you know what? Fashion Week has been great. You seen Fashion Week? You been paying attention to Fashion Week?” Westbrook responded to one question.
“Man. There’s a lot of great-looking things at Fashion Week, man. I’m looking forward to new collections. It’s been good, man.”
Two questions later came this from Westbrook:
“Man, you see the new Public School clothing? Crazy, dog. They got like the new Jordan hoodie . ... It’s crazy, man. A lot of new, great things at Fashion Week I’ve seen, man.
“What other designers? Gucci? The new Gucci stuff is dope. Good stuff, man.”
Later came a more general question about playing with four members of Golden State on the West team, and Westbrook shot back:
“What’s your favorite fashion brand? What you like?”
For his part, Durant was curt, vague or sometimes critical of the media for obsessing over things that aren’t important, not to him anyway.
He used five words to respond to his first question about the opportunity to play with Westbrook again: “I’m excited to be here.” Later, Durant said more directly, “I don’t want to talk about it.”
At other times, Durant became philosophical, minimizing the significance of contract talks, trades or when stars change teams.
“It’s not real-life problems,” Durant said, so he prefers to “just block it out.”
He added: “Stuff you guys may think is important, I don’t really think is important at all, so when I look at it that way, it’s pretty easy to me.”
Which five players are on the court at any given time will be up to West coach Steve Kerr of the Warriors.
So far, Kerr has been coy about how he’ll handle his rotations.
Thomas on rise: Point guard Isaiah Thomas is only 5-foot-9, but he’s averaging 29.9 points and has led the Celtics to second in the Eastern Conference behind the Cavaliers. He’s gone from the 60th and last pick in the 2011 draft by the Kings to MVP candidate.
“Nobody in their right mind would have thought that,” Thomas said of his MVP hopes.
“At one point I might not have even thought I was going to be the MVP. But now I do. I’m going to keep going. I’m not trying to play for MVP — if it happens it happens, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. But that’s definitely a goal of mine in my career at some point.”
Warriors guard Stephen Curry, the reigning MVP, said he’s a Thomas fan.
“He’s doing amazing things,” Curry said. “I don’t think that confidence (was any) different now than when he was a rookie or whatever. You go through each year, gain experience, get the right guys around you, good things happen.
“He’s having an amazing year. It’s been fun to watch.”
The second anniversary of Thomas’ trade from Phoenix to Boston is Sunday, when Thomas will appear in his second All-Star Game.
“Everything fuels him,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens, who will coach the East. “I think that’s the thing we’ve all learned about Isaiah. Everybody knew he had a chip on his shoulder. Now you realize he’s hungry for more.
“Success fuels him, too, just the same. He’s an incredible guy because he just wants to keep getting better whether he’s getting accolades or getting criticism.”