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A controversial owner known for ruffling feathers, Cuban
stated prior to Game Five that the Thunder only have one
superstar, Kevin Durant.
"I think (Westbrook is) an All Star, but not a superstar," Cuban
told reporters prior to his team's season-ending 118-104 loss.
"I consider Durant a superstar. There’s only a few guys that you
put them on any team and they’ll win 50 games. To me that’s the
definition of a superstar." Westbrook responded with a dominant
performance of 36 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists, lifting
Oklahoma City to a 4-1 best-of-seven series victory.
With Dallas trailing by just three in the final quarter, the
five-time All Star Westbrook ran off eight straight points for
his team to effectively put the game and the debate to rest.
Durant further drove the point home following the contest.
"He’s an idiot," Durant said of Cuban. "That’s what we got to
say about that. He’s an idiot. Next question."
Westbrook has faced his share of criticism throughout his career
as a shoot-first point guard who does not always defer to
Durant.
But after leading the NBA in scoring a season ago, Westbrook
rounded out his game this campaign and led the league with 18
triple-doubles, the most since Magic Johnson in 1981-82.
Westbrook and the Thunder will now face San Antonio in the
Western Conference semi-finals.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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