HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

The NBA announced the official lineup of the 2013 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, which will take place at the Sprint Arena on Friday, Feb. 15, during NBA All-Star Jam Session at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. NBA All-Stars James Harden of the host Houston Rockets and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder will serve as the West and East team coaches, respectively. For the ninth straight year, ESPN will televise the game beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can also view the game through NBA GameTime from Sprint application, available on Android and iOS, as well as via WatchESPN on computers, tablets, and phones. NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Clyde Drexler, Dikembe Mutombo, Bruce Bowen, Sean Elliott, All Star Game 

Darnell Mayberry: I'm hearing Russell Westbrook will not be among the participants in this year's slam dunk contest. Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, All Star Game 

Darnell Mayberry: Westbrook recently expressed interest in joining the contest "before it's too late" but called his participation this year "up in the air." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, All Star Game 

Here are some reactions from national media on the Westbrook incident: TNT analyst Kenny Smith: “The (team) chemistry is fragile. I hate to walk around the locker room on eggshells when a guy does something like this. Now you can't act natural around this guy for a couple days, and that really messes your team's morale up.” TNT analyst Shaquille O'Neal: “Westbrook is one of the leaders of the team. In order to be a great leader, you have to be a great listener. He messed up. … He's wrong. He knows he's wrong. You move on.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Shaquille O'Neal, Russell Westbrook, Kenny Smith 

The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard went off without any good explanation during Thursday's 106-89 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. He had been called for a five-second violation while posting up Grizzlies guard Jerryd Bayless, and apparently he pinned the violation on teammate Thabo Sefolosha. Now Sefolosha's cut to the basket was ill-timed, but Westbrook got steaming mad in the moment. Coach Scott Brooks pulled him from the game, leaving him to stew even more. "I decided to take Russell out because we needed to calm down," Brooks said. "Russell went in the back. It was nothing. He just had to regroup. … It was nothing that has not happened before — not just with him, with all of our guys." USA Today Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks, Thabo Sefolosha 

Westbrook on what happened with Thabo: “Nothing, just a little miscommunication." Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks, Thabo Sefolosha 

Brooks and everybody in the locker room defended Westbrook. No surprise there. They always do. It’d be news if they didn’t. It’d also would probably be a death sentence for anybody not named Kevin Durant who did. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks, Thabo Sefolosha 

Nick Collison sounded like he was practicing his lines in the mirror before defending Westbrook. As soon as he was asked about the incident, he was ready. “We lost a lot of veteran guys here. We lost Derek (Fisher). We lost Nazr (Mohammed) and Royal (Ivey). And the reason we’ve been able to keep up and go — we made a big trade earlier in the year — is because of what Russell and what Kevin have done as leaders. They’ve been great this year. They’ve grown up a lot, their voice with the team and they’ve done it with their play, too. I didn’t see what happened tonight. But I know those guys deserve a lot of credit, Russ in particular. He’s grown up a lot. We’re going to be fine. He’s had a great year.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Nick Collison, Russell Westbrook, Scott Brooks, Thabo Sefolosha 

Darnell Mayberry: Westbrook on his dust-up w/ Kobe: "He pushed me. That's what happened. I just got pushed... Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook 

Darnell Mayberry: Westbrook cont.: "I don't mind talking. But I don't like nobody putting their hands on me." Twitter @DarnellMayberry

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook