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Shaq grasps the rift between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook

Kevin Durant isn’t the first NBA player to leave a fellow superstar behind for greener pastures.

Shaquille O’Neil understands why Thunder star Russell Westbrook may have been rubbed the wrong way by Durant, since O’Neil has been in KD’s shoes.

Shaq signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 1996 just after he and Penny Hardaway led the Magic to the 1995 NBA Finals.

“I can understand what Russell’s going through,” O’Neil told Fox Sports. “I did the same thing to Penny when I signed in L.A. Me, I felt there was no need to call anybody and tell them what I was doing, and I’m sure Penny was hurt by that.