Lowell Cohn: Warriors-Thunder game really the story of Kevin and Russ

OAKLAND - It was a statement game for the Warriors, murdering the rival Thunder 122-96, the Thunder who gave the Warriors so much grief in last season's playoffs.

And it was a statement game for Kevin Durant, scoring 39 points in his first game against his old team, telling the world he belongs in Oakland.

But the game was by far the minor story, the mere subplot for what went on Thursday night, the meeting between Durant and Russell Westbrook. This is not a basketball story. Way more important than that. It is a story about broken hearts.

The world weeps over this sad tale.

Durant and Westbrook - Kevin and Russ - are former teammates, two superstars who played eight years together in Oklahoma City. They formed a once-in-a-lifetime bond. It could have been a movie.

Then Kevin left OKC after last season. Ran out on Russ and came here. It was almost a divorce. That's how the media portrayed it. It was as heart-wrenching as Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds calling it quits. Certainly what happened to Kevin and Russ was a rupture of a friendship as deep as the friendships between David and Jonathan or Damon and Pythias. Those cool kinds of friendships.

You'd expect Kevin to extend a hug to Russ when he left OKC, or give him a box of See's Candy, or maybe write a lyric poem in honor of their deep bond. Something to make Russ feel special. But no.

All Kevin sent Russ was a text. A few words on a tiny screen. That's what their relationship amounted to. Talk about tragic. Talk about a giant rip in the fabric of American sports and our collective hearts.

Can Western Civilization survive?

In an interview with the Bay Area News Group, Kevin, baring his soul, said he and Russ are brothers. Nothing gets in the way of that, even though they don't email each other or gab on the horn or hang out at the mall together.

When he gets married, Kevin said - not that marriage currently is in the works for the big guy - he will invite Russ even though he's not sure Russ will attend. Or bring a present. Or RSVP. If Russ doesn't attend Kevin's marriage whenever it is, whoever he's marrying, what is their world coming to? What is our world coming to?

The heart cries out in pain.

“I love Russ,” Kevin said.

We know you do, Kevin.

Kevin loves Russ even though Russ took a verbal shot at him. When told Kevin described the Warriors as “selfless,” Russ, perhaps feeling spurned - and who could blame him? - said, “That's cute, man.”

But Russ really didn't think it was cute. Of that you can be sure. He was being sarcastic. Feeling the bitterness of a broken friendship.

How in the world did Kevin and Russ go so wrong?

Before the game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr spoke about Kevin and Russ. Steve understands the anguish those two are going through.

“I think the whole thing is always going to be the story,” Steve said. “It involves a superstar leaving a team, a long-term partnership with two stars. Of course, it's going to be a story.

“I feel bad for Kevin because, even though he hasn't said anything negative, it's been portrayed that he's said a lot of negative things about Oklahoma City, about Russ. It's not true. He has said some things that have been construed as negative. He said something about he loves his new teammates. That was somehow construed that he didn't love his old team.

“It's almost like he has to qualify everything he says. That's a tough position to be in. It's all part of it. And Kevin understands that, and I think he's really happy he made the decision for his own reasons, not anybody else's. And I think he's really happy here.”

Easy for you to say, Steve. You didn't break anyone's heart. You don't bear the guilt. Kevin is the one who sent the cruel, unfeeling text message. No turning back from that.

As fans waited for the game to start, they hoped the Kiss Cam would zoom in on Kevin and Russ and show them sharing a smooch - a brotherly masculine kiss on the cheek and a bear hug .

But, no, the fans' hopes were dashed again. During pregame warm-ups, Kevin and Russ were on the court together but didn't say hello. It must have been painful for them, so near yet so far away. Two different worlds they live in.

And during player introductions, Russ turned his back as Kevin's name was announced. Like Kevin was any other player. Not a special person in Russ' life.

And they didn't acknowledge each other at the tipoff. An Arctic wind blowing through the arena.

Sure, they played a basketball game. The Warriors showed they are coming together on offense and defense, all the intricate parts finally meshing beautifully.

Kevin was happy about the Warriors. But it must have broken his heart to treat Russ so harshly - he blocked two of Russ' shots in the first half alone. Basketball isn't nearly as important to Kevin as his friendship with Russ - wherever it has gone.

“This basketball (bleep) is fake, man,” Kevin told the Bay Area News Group. “It's not real life. I love it. I go to work every day. I work hard every day. But when you're talking about off-the-court stuff, that (bleep) is not real.”

Kevin meant nothing, not even basketball bleep, is as important as the friendships he makes in life. He was talking about Russ. You could hear the pain in his voice.

So, I end with this. Thursday's game, the Warriors fourth consecutive win, doesn't matter. Not to basketball fans. Not to anyone with feelings. It's all about Kevin and Russ. Can they ever find true happiness? And if they can't, can we?

For more on the world of sports in general and the Bay Area in particular, go to the Cohn Zohn at cohn.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach Staff Columnist Lowell Cohn at lowell.cohn@pressdemocrat.com.