Russell Westbrook sub-Instagrammed Kevin Durant with cupcake photo

Kevin Durant announced his departure from the Thunder to the Warriors on July 4.

Russell Westbrook first publicly responded, using the loosest definition of response, several weeks later.

Or so we thought.

Westbrook apparently sent Durant a subtle message July 4, using a symbol popularized on the Thunder by former teammate Kendrick Perkins (who had very interesting thoughts on the Durant-Westbrook dynamic).

Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated:

Westbrook and Durant were not best buds, but they were peerless partners, a souped-up Stockton and Malone, transporting a mini market to the big time. Westbrook’s closest friends are actually former high school teammates, long-standing wing men like Donnell Beverly and Demetrius (Juice) Deason, who flank him in summer pickup games and play dominoes with him on the Fourth. “He didn’t talk much about what happened,” says Beverly. Westbrook didn’t disparage Durant. He didn’t judge him. All he did was take a picture. When Kendrick Perkins played center for the Thunder, he called teammates “cupcake” if he thought they were acting a little soft. Westbrook and Durant adopted the term in jest. Westbrook posted a bittersweet pic on Instagram: three plates of cupcakes topped by red and blue stars and sprinkles.

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Using Durant’s favorite teammate against him? That had to sting (which answers another question).

Westbrook hasn’t let up, getting less and less subtle in his Durant jabs. Though he pledged to quit answering Durant questions (while in the midst of raising tensions), I’m not sure he can stop.