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Durant explains why he won't shake hands with Westbrook before Thursday's game

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:48 p.m. ET

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Brett Pollakoff

When Kevin Durant left the Thunder to join the Warriors in free agency, he notified Russell Westbrook of his decision via text message, and the two haven't spoken since.

"I’m not saying I did it the right way," Durant recently admitted, via The Mercury News. "I’m owning up to that. We’re not going to go through this in the media though. I’m not going to say I should’ve did this, should’ve did that. We’ll figure our differences out as men one on one. He’s doing his job right now and he’s doing a helluva job. And I’m doing my job. Of course we’re not going to talk every day.

"But like I said, I don’t care what y’all say, fans in OKC, media, whoever. We’re going through a tough time right now in our relationship. But we’re brothers at the end of the day."

That could make things awkward when the two meet again on Thursday night at Oracle Arena, but don't expect any pregame drama stemming from an on-court greeting before the opening tip.

"I don't shake hands. That's something I've never done before a game," Durant said, via ESPN. "I just take the court to play. After the game, that's different."

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