Kevin Durant says he can't separate Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook when it comes to the best teammate of his career.
The Houston Rockets forward was asked directly about the topic during an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson .
Rather than picking one, he highlighted two MVP point guards who defined different eras of his career.
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Durant spent the first half of his career alongside Westbrook in Oklahoma City before joining Curry at Golden State . Both partnerships delivered deep playoff runs and a title each.
Durant explained that the link between the two was trust at the point guard position. He said that certainty allowed him to focus entirely on scoring and preparation.
"It's a tie between Steph and Russ. With Russ, I never feared that he was going to lose a matchup. That's one thing I never worried about. As a leader of a team, you worry about so much coming into a game…
"Just knowing I could have that ease coming into the game from the point guard just made my life easier. And I felt that same way about Steph."
His comments quickly circulated online, especially given the history with Westbrook. Rather than revisiting old tension, Durant pointed to fearlessness and reliability.
Durant and Westbrook reached the playoffs regularly in Oklahoma City, including an NBA Finals appearance in 2012. Their partnership shaped the first half of Durant's career.
Years later, he joined Curry at Golden State, where they won the NBA title in 2017. The move reshaped the league and built one of the most dominant teams of the era.
Now with Houston, Durant reflected on both experiences without ranking one above the other. For him, the defining quality was the confidence each guard provided in high-pressure moments.
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