Thunderous Intentions
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Oklahoma City Thunder: KD and Russ are better with the media

By Joshua Lea

Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Shirts adorn the seating inside the arena prior to action between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Shirts adorn the seating inside the arena prior to action between the Dallas Mavericks and the Oklahoma City Thunder in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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This series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks was a combination of ugly and interesting. It’s ugly because of the physical play and the fact that when the Oklahoma City Thunder are up 10 throughout the game, it feels as if the game is closer. I, for one, enjoy the more physical “smash mouth” basketball; however, it is ugly.

It’s interesting due to the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder are not known for playing a grind style of basketball throughout the regular season. It’s also interesting due to the absolute professionalism that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have displayed at the podium and during shootaround with the media.

We all remember when Westbrook told Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman that he didn’t like him. We remember during the All-Star break when Durant criticized the media, there have been multiple instances where both KD and Russ have told the media exactly what they thought of the media.

Some of the time, it is just and 100% accurate. Other times, it’s a matter of having a rough game or the wrong question being asked at the wrong time. In the case of Westbrook versus Berry Tramel, it was neither.

Fast forward to Game 4 in Dallas. The Oklahoma City Thunder had a hard-fought victory, taking a three games to one lead over the Mavericks. Mavericks’ head coach Rick Carlisle has been critical of the Thunders’ play, and the term dirty players has been thrown around in regards to KD and Russ. There have been some rumblings by the Mavericks that the Oklahoma City Thunder is a dirty team, and they’re playing similar to how the Knicks played in the 1990’s.

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It’s unnatural to think of Kevin and Russ as dirty players. If anything, they are passionate players, especially Westbrook. However, Kevin Durant was given a flagrant two and an ejection following a hard foul on Mavericks’ Justin Anderson in Game 4. Durant was fined $15,000 for the hit. In game three, Durant was given a technical foul following the game for an apparent elbow on Mavericks player Salah Mejri. Westbrook was fined $25,000 for language directed at a Dallas fan during Game 4, as well.

When both Durant and Westbrook took the podium following game four, you almost would expect for the local media in Dallas or the national media to ask questions specifically designed to get a rise out of Durant and Westbrook. However, the rise was nowhere to be found. Erik Horne of the Oklahoman asked Kevin about the Justin Anderson hit, and ESPN’s Tim MacMahon asked Westbrook about the physical play.

Durant and Westbrook have been professional and shown tremendous growth as a duo in dealing with the media. It’s a good sign, the relationship between athletes and the media has always been a controversial love/hate relationship. There are two types of members of the media who report for the good of the sport.

KD and Russ were also questioned following the closeout win of game five about Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s comments that Russell Westbrook isn’t a “superstar.” However, when asked, Maverick’s superstar Dirk Nowitzki said “I’d take him.” Kevin Durant again said what needed to be said and no one should have a problem with it. Especially when it comes to Mark Cuban.

There are also reporters, like the unnamed reporter from Houston, who was trying to make a connection with the Golden State Warriors and the tragic floods going on in Houston, Texas. The reporter tried to get Golden State Warriors’ forward Draymond Green to say something about a possible correlation between Golden State’s three-point shots (raining 3s) and the floods. He began his question by outlining the situations in which each time Golden State comes to Houston and wins, it floods. Green quickly interrupted him before he could finish his question.

Draymond shuts this guy down before he can finish his thought, and tells him his motivations for his questioning. This type of reporting or questioning has no place in sports. What’s sad is there are plenty of reporters, writers, and just fans of the game, who would love a chance to sit in the media room and ask good questions about basketball. But instead, people like this guy are only there to cause a headline to benefit their own popularity, or lack thereof.

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I applaud Green for his response, the same as I applaud KD and Russ for their professionalism in dealing with the media. As someone who is a member of the media and reports on basketball and its players, I can honestly say we’re not all bad. However, questions such as the one proposed to Green should be eliminated from sports in order for questions about the game to be asked.

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