Durant congratulated Westbrook on MVP out of respect for the game

It will take more than some over-hyped beef to force Kevin Durant's respect for the game to waver.

Ever since the superstar left the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer in free agency to pursue a championship with the Golden State Warriors, there's been much ado about his soured relationship with his former co-star Russell Westbrook.

And yet, when Russ was named the league's Most Valuable Player on the heels of his historic campaign, he received praise from an unlikely source.

"I called out this year's MVP years ago so you gotta respect my knowledge for the game lol," Durant wrote on social media. "Huge congrats to Russell Westbrook on MVP. That boy went out there and was a created player on (NBA) 2K all year, f--kin balled out. Gotta respect it!"

Related: Kanter throws shade at Durant: Westbrook is 'the real MVP'

Coming off his first title win, KD explained why he was able to put the pettiness aside and show some love to his old friend, who led the league in scoring while averaging a robust triple-double of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists.

"The game of basketball has been so great to me," the 2014 MVP told ESPN's Cari Champion. "I can't disrespect it because a bunch of nobodies trying to make me and somebody beef over basketball. The game is too important and too sacred for me to disrespect it that way."

That's a mature and classy response from Durant.