HoopsHype.com Rumors

Right. So, why the glasses? It fits me. It looks better. It adds sophistication. There was a little stink during the Finals over who started the faux-glasses trend. LeBron said it definitely wasn't you. I don't know. Do you care? Nope. I don't care who started what. I do my own thing. I don't try to start trends. What trends are you into now? I like cutoff jean jackets, jean shorts, too. I liked metallic leather for a while but I'm over it now. Now I'm into cotton pants for some reason. Cotton, light gray, but they look dressy, with little pockets and zippers. I'm getting some made. ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook 

Wall wouldn't even say for certain that Westbrook was the league's second-fastest player. “It's tough man,” said Wall, who was coming off a career-high 47 points Monday against Memphis and finished with 18 points and 12 assists against the Thunder. “There's a couple fast guys in this league. He (Westbrook) is up there, Derrick (Rose) is up there, when he's healthy. Mike Conley's pretty quick. There's a couple guys. Ty Lawson's quick. So there's a lot of guys, but I put myself first.” Oklahoman

Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Mike Conley, Russell Westbrook, Ty Lawson 

Wall was still complimentary of Westbrook, admitting he is at a place in his career where Wall hopes to some day find himself. “We're both young, athletic, fast point guards and that's very rare that you see that in this league,” Wall said. “I'm trying to take the same steps as he's taken, being an All-Star, making the playoffs and that type of thing, so that's what I'm trying to do. Give a lot of credit to how he's working and how he's helping this team.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Russell Westbrook 

There was a time when Westbrook admittedly looked at the player across from him and saw an opportunity, a chance to make his mark even if that meant stepping outside of the team concept and turning the game into a one-on-one battle. “When you're younger, you're trying to find your way and trying to find your swagger in this league,” Westbrook said. “You've got to come out every night and compete, and that's how I thought I could find my way and build an image in this league.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, John Wall, Russell Westbrook 

Another display of chemistry between Durant and Westbrook that some refuse to see was on display tonight. It came when Durant was chewing up the Grizzlies and leading the Thunder’s third-quarter rally. KD had scored 13 straight and from the bench Westbrook was shouting to Jackson to “get the ball to KD.” When Jackson did, Durant nailed a bank shot that gave the Thunder its first lead of the night at 57-56. Right before an ensuing pair of Grizzlies foul shots, Westbrook then walked up to Durant in front of the Thunder bench and said “don’t stop.” Oklahoman

Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook 

Durant and DeMarre Carroll got into it again tonight. Carroll hip-checked Durant with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Durant took exception. Then Westbrook took exception. Westbrook ran over and elbowed Carroll in the chest. Those two then started talking smack. The irony of the whole thing was that Carroll did to Durant exactly what he didn’t appreciate Durant doing to his buddy Burks back in Utah a month ago. Check the 2:30 mark here. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, DeMarre Carroll 

Durant: “I was just trying to get my teammate away from it all. I seen Russ over there by himself. That was the first thing I was concerned with. It was a hard foul. That’s it. I did the same thing to one of their guys in Utah so I couldn’t be too upset about it. I was just running over there to get Russell. I seen him in a see of blue of Utah guys. So I just tried to go over there and get him out of that because I knew he came to my rescue there as well.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, DeMarre Carroll 

Durant: “Ain’t nobody gon fight out here first off. It wasn’t that hard of a foul. I’m glad I was able to get two free throws out of it. But other than that I was just trying to go over there and get Russ.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, DeMarre Carroll 

Westbrook, in fact, has a face that was made to smile. With his high cheekbones and wide mouth, attributes that lend themselves to brilliant grins, Westbrook has the right facial chops to be the life of a party. And, according to friends, he often is just that. “He’s a dancing machine,” says Perkins, before sarcastically calling Russell a diva. “He’s just a guy who likes to dance all the time.” SLAM

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kendrick Perkins, Russell Westbrook 

After hitting the shot, Westbrook immediately froze, then stared down the crowd, a reaction his detractors would label all-too predictable. Westbrook is hardly the only NBA player who enjoys him a stare-down after big shots, but his are among the most frequent. However, as the highly emotional point guard explained afterward, the act wasn't actually directed at Clippers fans. "I was looking at my dad," explained Westbrook with a smile. "It's funny, because, this corner shot, I missed this corner baseline shot a couple years back. You guys won't remember, but I always remember I missed this baseline shot. Every time we work out in the summertime, we always talk about hitting that shot and I hit it, so..." Sulia

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook 

Darnell Mayberry: Westbrook: "I missed a baseline shot, and every time we work out in the summertime we always talk about hitting that shot. And I hit it." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook 

Add Russell Westbrook to those who speculate Derrick Rose will return on his surgically-repaired left knee sometime this season. "I see that he's getting better," the Thunder's All-Star point guard said. "He's almost close to coming back." Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Derrick Rose, Injuries, Russell Westbrook 

Jared Zwerling: James Harden: "I still miss those guys (referring to Durant and Westbrook), being around them every day." Twitter @JaredZwerling

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, All-Star 

Ke$ha didn't pay much attention to the NBA until recently when she realized she had a fan in the league. The pop star was shown a video of Oklahoma City All-Star Russell Westbrook singing along to her hit "Die Young" before a recent game against the Mavericks. "It was the cutest, hottest thing ever to see a basketball player doing that to my song," Ke$ha said. NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Ke$ha 

Kevin Durant: Check my brothers @Russell Westbrook & @James Harden out. They killed it last night. #stylesalute #gqallstar gq.com/style/blogs/th… Twitter @KDTrey5

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook 

“We’re different, but I think we’re just as good,” small forward Kevin Durant said. “James, don’t get me wrong, he’s a phenomenal player, but we lost him and we got Kevin Martin back, who’s a really good player as well. “And I think for the passing ability that we lost with James, and his defense, we make up for it with Russell and myself, and the guys on the bench that help.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook 

Westbrook said they’re still good friends, and they’re from the same area so they’ll continue to hang out in summers, and Durant said they’ll remain tight after learning together as professionals. “We miss him,” Durant said. “Of course we all grew up together and I’m happy he’s playing well in Houston, but we’ve got to move past it. “It’s been almost three or four months now, so it’s time to move on.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook 

Is it strange being back on the same team as Westbrook and Durant? James Harden: “Nah, it's not strange. It was strange when I played in Oklahoma City. When I was in a Houston uniform playing in Oklahoma City, that was strange. This will be more jokes and smiling and just enjoying each other's company.” Oklahoman

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook 

How special is your relationship with Durant and Westbrook? James Harden: “It's very special. We were together all summer, in London, having fun, laughing. And then we got split up. But we're back together and it seems like we never left each other. We're brothers. Simple as that. We're always going to be brothers.” Oklahoman

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russell Westbrook 

The Shooting Stars competition involves an NBA play, a WNBA player and a retired player shooting from various locations on the court. Team Bosh: Chris Bosh, Dominique Wilkins, Swin Cash Team Lopez: Brook Lopez, Muggsy Bogues, Tamika Catchings Team Harden: James Harden, Sam Cassell, Tina Thompson Team Westbrook: Russell Westbrook, Robert Horry, Maya Moore SI.com

Chris Bosh, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Brook Lopez, Sam Cassell, Muggsy Bogues, Dominique Wilkins, Robert Horry, All Star Game