Russell Westbrook Following Rockets' Win Over Thunder: 'When I Hoop, I Have No Friends'

Russell Westbrook said that his only friends on the court are the basketball itself and his teammates.

Following the Rockets’ 116-112 win over the Thunder, Houston star Russell Westbrook made it clear that when he steps onto the floor, he has no interest in socializing.

"This is how it goes: When I hoop, I have no friends," Westbrook told reporters. "On the court, they know not to talk to me. Steven is a real close friend of mine, but inside those lines, there's no friends. Spalding, that's my friend, and my teammates, but that's it. Before the game, after the game, I'll talk to my guys. That doesn't mean I don't have friends, but during the game, I don't. If you try to talk to me, I ain't going to say s--- to you."

Nothing changed for Russell Westbrook facing his former team tonight.

“When I hoop, I have no friends. Steven [Adams] is a real close friend of mine, but inside those lines, there’s no friends. Spalding, that’s my friend.” pic.twitter.com/ClgC31ehvZ

— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) October 29, 2019

Westbrook’s new team beat Westbrook’s old team in their first meeting since the trade as the 2017 MVP finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. 

The eight-time All-Star, who played his first 11 NBA seasons with the Thunder, also reportedly entered Oklahoma City’s locker room Monday night to catch up with some of his old teammates.

“You’re in the wrong locker room,” a few Thunder players joked.

“The Clippers tried to suspend me for this,” Paul joked, referring to when the Rockets attempt to barge into the Clippers’ locker room following a heated 2018 game. “Come on man. You get out of here.”

The two teams will not meet again until January when Westbrook will learn just how friendly the Oklahoma City fans will treat him.