Despite the national narrative, there had been only occasional displays of contempt between Durant and Westbrook before that incident, moments that easily could be written off as typical frustration: Durant flailing his arms when open and slapping his hands on his thighs in hissy-fit fashion when Westbrook's tunnel vision prevented him from passing the ball. Westbrook slumping his shoulders, shaking his head and rolling his eyes whenever Durant stood aimlessly in a corner as plays developed or when he allowed defenders to crowd him and deny a clean passing lane.

Years of perceived tension between the two was playing out in front of a capacity crowd and mere feet away from stunned Grizzlies fans seated behind the visitor's bench inside FedExForum.

The Thunder was playing only the third game of the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season when tempers flared between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. A shocking sideline spat ensued, resulting in the two stars shouting at each other and needing to be separated.

But that Wednesday night in Memphis was different. Both players downplayed the altercation, but the truth is that was the night that Westbrook and Durant arrived at a critical crossroads in their relationship. They had a choice. Band together or drift apart.

They chose to stick together, and ever since that December night they've upheld a partnership many deem impossible to maintain — two alpha males playing for the same team, working toward the same goal.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant became the latest and perhaps most credible person to lend credence to how difficult a dynamic that can be. As a guest on Shaquille O'Neal's podcast, Bryant reflected on his rocky yet successful time as Shaq's teammate and said it was only a matter of time before the two went their separate ways.

“Could you imagine…How many years would Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain be playing together with Wilt in his prime and Michael wanting to come up and grow?” Bryant asked. “Like, how long is that going to last before Michael says, ‘You know what? It's time for me to show what I can do.' It is what it is. That's why he and I are one of a kind when it comes to tandem because you literally have two alpha males playing together on one team and that normally does not happen.”