Kevin Durant Got Mad at Russell Westbrook for Going at Damian Lillard

The rivalry between Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook was one of the more entertaining storylines in the NBA over the past decade.

Both players, known for their intense competitiveness, were at the center of heated on-court battles. The tension between them reached its peak in the first round of the playoffs in 2019 when Lillard, then playing for the Portland Trail Blazers, famously knocked out the Oklahoma City Thunder with a walk-off game-winner.

Lillard, who now plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, said their rivalry started during his first two years in the league. He described Westbrook as a "bully" back then with the way he challenged opposing guards.

"For Russ, it didn't matter if it was a big matchup, if somebody was hurt, if he was playing against the backup," Lillard said on the "Club 520" podcast. "He didn't care. He tried to do it to everybody."

Lillard, however, noted that Westbrook's aggressiveness sometimes irked Kevin Durant during their time together on the Thunder.

"When I was, like, a rookie, second year, he (Westbrook) used to try to give me 50 every time," the eight-time All-Star said. "He would be shooting on me so much, KD would be getting mad, like, 'Pass the ball!'"

It's no secret that Durant and Westbrook, two alpha dogs, had their on-court arguments. Still, they carried Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals in 2012 and were poised to make more milestones together until Durant bolted in 2016.

Lillard said the feistiness of Westbrook, who signed with the Denver Nuggets this offseason, made him realize that he needed to be more aggressive to make it to the NBA.

"He's like, 'I've been busting your a** for years,' and I'd be like, 'Yeah, well, it's a new time,'" the former Rookie of the Year shared. "Every game, it was automatic. I came to the arena knowing it's on tonight."

These days, the rivalry between Lillard and Westbrook has cooled off. But it's still must-watch TV every time they face off.

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