The Thunder was up 25 at home on the shorthanded Grizzlies back in February of 2013 and Russell Westbrook committed what seemed to be a meaningless 5-second violation midway through the third quarter.

But the turnover set him off. He snapped at Thabo Sefolosha, who had cut into his area during the post-up, bringing an extra defender. Then he had a shouting match with the Thunder bench on his way back down the court. A timeout was called moments later. It only escalated the situation, bringing Westbrook closer to the people with whom he was arguing.

It was a blow-up that blew up across the web that night. Westbrook seethed on the end of the bench, punched the back of the chair and angrily stormed to the locker room. The TNT cameras caught it all and Charles Barkley and the Inside the NBA crew discussed it postgame, criticizing Westbrook.

But within the volatile situation, Westbrook’s relationship with Mo Cheeks was put on display. Cheeks sat alone with Westbrook on the end of the bench. He calmly discussed the situation with the fuming star. He was, quite clearly, the only guy with Westbrook’s ear in that emotional moment.