“He’s got to say sorry, and he’s got to mean it,” said Jenkins as the courtside doctor gave in to Harden’s request for a band-aid. “Russell hurt James’s feelings, and we don’t play games unless we know we can follow the rules and respect each other.”

“Uh-uh,” said Westbrook, sulking in a corner and rapidly shaking his head back and forth. “James started it. He’s a bully, and I hate him.”

“I’ve always believed that basketball should be fun above all else,” said Jenkins. “If it looks like somebody’s getting treated unfairly, then no one gets to play.”

As of press time, Jenkins had gathered all the players together and told them that they should all try to make sure that everyone gets to have the ball for about the same amount of time because that is only fair.