Wizards point guard Russell Westbrook supplied a lengthy response to ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, who claimed (video link) that Westbrook still needed a championship to cement his legacy. “You’ve played with some great great players over the years. Talent. And not a single title to show for it,” Smith said. “The numbers are the numbers… It ain’t about that no more.”
Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets Westbrook’s full statement. “I’m happy,” Westbrook said in part. “I was a champion once I made it to the NBA. I grew up in the streets. I’m a champion. I don’t have to be an NBA champion… My legacy is what I do off the floor, how many people I’m able to impact and inspire along my journey, man.”
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Now that the Magic have fully committed to rebuilding their club through their young players and future draft assets, Josh Robbins and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic have opted to assess Orlando’s expected plans for the 2021 draft and beyond, as well as tantalizing new players R.J. Hampton and Wendell Carter Jr. Vecenie and Robbins both feel that Orlando should have perhaps pivoted to a full-tilt rebuild sooner than it did, and agree that the top-heavy 2021 draft should have several intriguing prospects for the Magic.
- New Heat shooting guard Victor Oladipo is set to debut for Miami on Thursday opposite the Warriors, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We’ve had several Zoom sessions,” head coach Erik Spoelstra noted, “just to review and try to fast track our system. But he’s a savvy, high-IQ veteran player.”
- Magic rookie forward Chuma Okeke and new center/power forward Wendell Carter Jr. are doing their best to capitalize on rotational opportunities with Orlando, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. Both players flashed some of their promise down the stretch of a surprise 103-96 win over the Clippers Tuesday.
Exactly, Westbrook and John Wall are champions
They are champions to help the poor people
At least John Wall has a chance to win a championship someday.
Not with Houston.
@Sillivan – make sense ONE time, I dare you.
LaVert has more value than Oladipo
Jarrett Allen has zero value in summer because other teams can outbid Rockets owner
Incoherent
Always, smh
Love Russ’ response and what has Stephen A won? Besides, KD left when they were close to a title. The organization also sold low on Harden. Not his fault. I’m sure if he joined the Nets or Lakers, he’d have that title.
Rather Westbrook win a championship or not he has legacy as being one of the most athletic players in nba history and one of two man to ever average a triple double in a single season. While Oscar Robinson was the first to do it.
Stephen who? He’s faded into the background now that he’s no longer with Skip. Shannon is way more fun and likeable. Plus he has the credibility of being a former football star. Stephen’s athletic qualities were shown in that terrible boxing video
Look all of this is just a game. Some of the best players in history never won a championship, in every sport. If you inspired other players, excited fans, you have done your job. This isn’t statesmanship, it’s entertainment. Does anyone seriously judge great actors because they did not win an Oscar? Other than trivia fanatics, I mean.
Steph Curry won unanimous MVP but is apparently trash because sports writers who despised him all year got to vote for FMVP and went with Iggy based off one game even though Steph outplayed everyone in every game EXCEPT that one game. Trash media and social media narratives are homer trash – the sport deserves better.
Russell Westbrook is one of my all time favorite players. He plays the game harder, with more energy, with a relentlessness that I love. Even with other guys I would describe in similar ways, it’s like he doesnt get tired, and never quits. I would go to war with him every day of the week, and that’s good enough for me. I hope he wins someday, but if he doesnt, it doesnt tarnish what he has done in that regard, and all of his community efforts will also be remembered for a long time. He is a person, but maybe certain people have forgotten that. The way the media has influenced perception, with the rise of social media creating entitlement and elevating egos is really disgusting. That being said, I’m happy Russell Westbrook understands what its really all about
He’s a ball hog, hence the stats. He’s a great player and a probable HOFer, but he could have been more had he been able to function next to another elite player.
99.9% of entertainment media is BS and is there to sell products to the masses. Smith’s schtick sells junk food and cars to make $ for Disney. Westbrook is 100% correct.
To consider someone like Westbrook a failure in any way shape or form is idiotic.
Not a Westbrook fan when I hear him interviewed but you can’t question the man’s work ethic, heart, competitiveness and productivity. He’s HOF all day.
Westbrook at his best was an OK player. He’s not the best player of all time but there are also hundreds of players worse than him. I dont get why he got such a huge contract and so much hype but I also dont get why he gets so much hate. He’s never done anything at all except play basketball.
Right. I live in OKC and we love him here.
Triple Doubles are overrated.
Not anywhere near as much as treys, specially from the logo… & that is why Russ was, is & will always be a better player than Curry!
And yet apparently Steph Curry has to win a FMVP with a team made up entirely of G-leaguers to get any respect of these idiotic haters.
I bet a part of Westbrook wishes he was in Brooklyn instead of Kyrie
I would probably be a Nets fan if he was.
But that’s more a dislike of Kyrie and less any opinion on Westbrook.
Oladipo playing tonight for the Heat? Is this an April Fool’s Day prank?
Go Heat!
Loved his comments earlier. Heat DNA. LFG
I mean how sad is this Stephen A dude… If anyone needs to win a championship to be winners all it means basically is that they are losers, right?
Russ is a winner & a legend, he ain’t no need no ring to prove it, as simple as!