Having faced criticism for his underwhelming play with the Lakers throughout the 2021/22 season, former MVP Russell Westbrook told reporters this week that he believes some of the disrespect he has received from fans this season has crossed a line.
“When it comes to basketball, I don’t mind the criticism of missing and making shots. But the moment it becomes where my name is getting shamed, it becomes an issue,” Westbrook said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “… ‘Westbrick,’ for example, to me, is now shaming. It’s shaming my name, my legacy for my kids. It’s a name that means, not just to me, but to my wife, to my mom, my dad, the ones that kind of paved the way for me.”
Westbrook said he no longer feels comfortable bringing his children to games because he doesn’t want them to hear the comments he gets from fans — or to face any harassment themselves. His wife, Nina Westbrook, stated on social media this week that she has had “obscenities and death wishes” sent her way.
Addressing his point guard’s comments, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel indicated on Wednesday that he and the team are throwing their support behind Westbrook and his family, according to Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group.
“He’s an important player for us, he’s a part of our family,” Vogel said. “And anytime a player is feeling that type of impact at home with his family, that is a big concern and should be handled with care. And I hope people can respect what he had to say postgame the other night, because it should never come to that.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report considers how the Westbrook situation might play out this summer, suggesting that it wouldn’t be out of the question for the Lakers to waive or buy out the 33-year-old, stretching his $47MM salary for 2022/23 across three seasons to gain more short-term financial flexibility. One source told Pincus the Rockets hope to revisit a potential Westbrook/John Wall swap, but other sources were skeptical the Lakers would have any more interest in that scenario this summer than they did during the season.
- The Kings were the latest team to take part in what has become a trend this season, issuing a statement on Wednesday to say they disagreed with the NBA’s decision to suspend Domantas Sabonis. Previously, the Heat stated that they disagreed with the league’s decision to take away a second-round pick for their early pursuit of Kyle Lowry in free agency, while the Bucks publicly took exception to Grayson Allen‘s one-game suspension.
- According to Scott Soshnick and Brendan Coffey of Sportico, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is preparing a bid for English soccer club Chelsea FC, which is currently up for sale. Sportico recently projected Chelsea’s value to be $3.35 billion.
- With James Wiseman nearing a return, Anthony Slater of The Athletic explores how the Warriors might use him down the stretch, especially when they’re trying to build momentum for the postseason and also reintegrate Draymond Green. In Slater’s view, dedicating a few minutes per half to a second unit led by a Jordan Poole/Wiseman pick-and-roll game could make sense for Golden State.
This from a guy who looks grown men in the face and pretends to rock them like a baby. But “Westbrick” crosses a line? Sure, good luck with that.
Yeah he is coming off pathetic. And it’s odd, because he actually is getting comments that cross a line, such as threats and mentions of his family. But “Westbrick” is not one of those comments. Not sure why he didn’t just use one of the other more serious examples instead.
The answer is because he can’t. “Obscenities and death wishes” has become celebrity/politician/corporate speak for “people saying mean things to me on the internet”. That’s why the only thing he actually brought up was the Westbrick nickname. That is what triggered all this.
Like KD said about Ben Simmons, you get paid $44 million dollars a year to deal with criticism he’ll be iight.
He gets paid $44M to play basketball not to absorb hatred & jealousy & savage disrespect from the people he entertains. You think he’s wrong for not being quiet while he gets disrespected when any sane person should be able to see that it’s the idiots that shower him with vulgar hatred, trying to be as disrespectful as they can be to him that are actually/obviously in the wrong. People have been horrible towards athletes (especially Black athletes) for a long time. That doesn’t make it right. It makes it much worse if anything. I’m glad you brought up his salary tho bc that’s a big reason that he gets so much hate. Seeing a young, rich, Black man that’s brimming with confidence & a role model to millions is extremely triggering to a large # of people. That’s basically what this boils down to tbh
Dude he bricks 15 shots a game with 2 off the side of the backboard with 9 turnovers, that’s what it boils down too, what he contributes on the court isn’t worth half his contract and that’s what happens when you get paid as a 1%er in America, you face backlash if you can’t do your job
Sankara your humanistic angle is undermined by use o race and RW’s status, which you apparently overrate… (maybe… Top 100 okay). Using race fuels a hystericism that is also ugly. People have also heckled white athletes so that point is moot. (BB games used to be played in cages to protect the players!)
You assume there was worse said than “Westbrick”, but that is not in evidence, and I do not find ‘brick’ racist or so horrible or even inaccurate. RW should stop launching 3s so automatically, or ever.
Vogel should try making him stop by benching him or other punitive measures, instead of the Lakers “Wall-ing him out” or buying him off. (It may be hard finding a HC to do that though.)
This is likely what RW is worried about really… That his HC will act like a HC trying to win, instead of a HC placating a star. RW does not want to be accountable for losing his head on the court.
If he wants to stop taking kids to games, hooray. Not a place for them IMO.
Stars are always wanting what they had when they were younger.
You concede that Russ endures threats & disrespect to his family but you see him as the pathetic one in this dynamic with no judgement towards those thousands of individuals threatening & disrespecting him on a continuous basis. If he’s pathetic then what are they?
For “Westbrick”? Observant; mildly clever; resistant to hype.
His kids should learn lack of discipline has a price.
You say worse, San. That’s the funny thing.
As it turns out, two things can be true at the same time.
@reflect
I honestly think that comment was towards the media specifically Skip Bayless. He’s the first I ever heard use Westbrick. Coming from a media member is a lot more harsh and inexcusable thank a fan.
@pc01 Him rockin in the baby to a competitor is one thing. I guarantee you he here’s worse from A COMPETITOR. That’s different because trash talking is part of the game and you can give it back just the same. But when it comes to fans you rarely can’t. We say recently have heard of players being fined for using foul language towards fans. The NBA doesn’t want that. However, I really think Westbrook wasn’t necessarily directing anger towards the fans but more the person who started calling him Westbrick and the person I first call him that was Skip Bayless. He consistently refers to Russ as Westbrick much like he referred to Chris Bosh as “Chrissie ” or “Posh” spice or something. I think coming from a respected legit media personality is a lot more harmful and disrespectful than coming from a fan. I think that’s what Westbrook’s mostly upset about. Bayless needs to be handled.
For sure, KnicksFan, you make good points… but man, I hope most people don’t see Bayless being respected or legit. He’s a clown show, even people who watch him know he’s paid to be irritating. If Skip Bayless is hurting your feelings with a grade school recess insult, like “Westbrick,” even though Russ exhibits the supreme confidence to mock his opponents and blatantly call them his little baby, I still say there’s a disconnect there that doesn’t look especially good. Russ should just say, “Bayless is my baby,” and move on.
KD said it perfectly just a couple days ago, “Some people don’t even enjoy basketball, they just like — their lives are so sh***y that they just need to aim it at other people”. Never mind the fact that Russ is literally one of the best basketball players in the history of the game. Even if he did suck it’s just obvious that the vitriol that so many people have for him & other great NBA players & the enthusiasm with which these losers throw hate at them is way way overboard and very telling of the type of society we live in.
What KD also said right after that was something to the tune of “you make 44 million dollars a year you’ll be iight” the Westbrook’s can cry all the way to the bank.
Lol I notice you skipped right past the part that I quoted where he perfectly describes your motivation for hating “the Westbrook’s” of the world as you say. Didn’t wanna weigh in on that lol, rather change the subject huh? You unawarely bring up your other motivation for being such a miserable hater tho, the fact that Russ makes more $ than your combined family tree will ever see. Please curb your jealousy dude, it’s not a good look at all. Russ is an all time great when it comes to the game if basketball. This is extremely obvious. Just enjoy him while he’s still playing. Or just ignore him if you can’t enjoy his game. Calling guys names, disrespecting them and just being an overall horrible person isn’t necessary to enjoy watching basketball I promise it’s not
If you don’t want the criticism then start making your shots.
He’s scored almost 26,000 pts in his career. How many shots does he have to make before he can get treated with common decency by his fellow humans?
Yeah or he could just stop taking shots. Either way works. If he played like Simmons on offense and only took drinks, lay ups and floaters and flat refused to shoot jumpers then he would be decent again.
Your suggestion is that he play more like the 1 guy that is more hated than him. This is a perfect example of how haters are gonna hate no matter what. Ben Simmons doesn’t shoot & he gets savagely criticized, Josh Smith takes the shots that Ben passes up but he gets savagely criticized for that too. Russ is literally a living legend of basketball & he’s still not good enough for these idiots smh
Last night Lakers vs Rockets OT
Every Rockets shot had no contest
The worst defense ever
LeBron and Westbrook can”t even shoot from one feet
Best thing for his bank account was the Supermax. Worst thing for his career/legacy/current situation was the Supermax. A regular max he probably isn’t on his what 4th team in as many years?
Supermax curse like J.Wall
What benefit would there be to buying out his contract? They’d still be a max team without being able to take on other contracts by trading Westbrook. Maybe they could trade him to the Knicks. The Knicks have done dumber things and have some bad contracts of their own
Knicks fans would love to hate him …
Exactly, they’d still be over the cap and not able to use that savings other than in tax dollars.
Lakers need 5 first round picks from any teams so that they can trade future for present again
Ex
Westbrook and 3 Firsts for young players
Cry me a river!!! Can’t handle the heat then walk away.
Westbrook is the NBA’s version of Cam Newton.
Yea he is lol a former MVP & all-time great that is unapologetically confident & hated for that reason by the Bobs & Karen’s of the world
@buffalo
nitty making excuses for him but I think he’s referring to the comments and the death threats towards his family.
Not sure why AD doesn’t get any criticism directed his way. Where has he been all season? Yeah Russ isn’t great, but is this really all his fault?
Remember when Danny Green got death threats a season ago? How many fans murdered in CA over sports? It’s getting out of hand…
BIG BABY!!!
It’s not just about poor performance. It’s his ATTITUDE! It’s his selfishness, ungratefulness, and self-pity, blaming attitude. Earlier in the season he blamed everybody for being against him. He taunts and flaunts others all the time on court… now that his career is crashing, he still refuses to show any gracefulness. He doesnt feel bad about loss to Rockets because of his 30 points. Thats always going to be his big baby selfish mindset.
Big Baby is retired? What are u talking about
Playing horrible basketball earning 44 million bucks does that.
This season is juat the perfect example of him being OVERRATED all along. He was so bad, OKL, Houston, WA all got rid of him. And Lakers will too. All that triple doubles mean nothing!!! Yet, to Westbrook, it’s his justifucation of being great.. when it’s totally opposite. H has been getting triple doubles at the expense of team wins and his teammates.
His NBA days are near the end. Say hello to CHINA!
@Michol
Westbrook’s timeline is a perfect example of the narrative of a player being shaped by the media. OKC was more than happy to KEEP Westbrook. Once Paul George begged OKC to trade him to the Clippers to join Kawhi he then ASKED OKC to trade him to. He was fine in Houston until he started to clash with Harden. Westbrook just wanted out. Harden wanted to go to Brooklyn. The Wizards were likely happy to trade a disgruntled Wall for Westbrook. Westbrook ASKED to be traded to the Lakers. He wasn’t forced out. Now the NBA is a league designed to vastly overpay their vets. There’s a minimum amount of money that must be spent on players and you have to spend a minimum amount of years in the league to get a super max deal. Westbrook is vastly overpaid and triple doubles have been vastly overvalued. Westbrook is far, far, far away from being overseas bound. If his contract were for $20 mil instead of $47 milI promise you’d have a few teams that would lineup for him. The results might not be great but they’d still do it.
Westbrook’s career spiral does remind a bit of Carmelo’s spiral. Remember after NY days, he went to OKL, Houston and then nobody wanted him at all even for minimum? Westbrook now is in the same stage as when Melo was in NY…. Btw, OKL wanted to get rid of him badly… they just made it like it was what Westbrook wanted and it was for his benefit. Westbrook was dum.b for falling for it. He should have stayed, get his triple doubles, mentor younger players, and still be treated as loyalty….
Anyways, Westbrook and his mega ego is making a huge career mistake now. He needs to be more graceful, accept bench role, and STAY in LA at all cost. He needs to accept his diminished skills and try to help the team in any capacity and be a team player. He will surely regret it when be leaves LA because it is his final stop of spotlight.
@Michol
No such thing as “getting triple doubles at the expense of team wins”. How does he HURT a team by getting rebounds or assists? He doesn’t. What he DOES that hurts his team is more about how he scores, his low basketball IQ and his inability to be a real floor general an orchestrate an offense the way Paul, Dray and LBJ can. Westbrook is a duck my head and run downhill to the basket player who will jump in the air and either shoot or find a way to clumsily pass the ball at the last minute. He doesn’t know how to pace himself and usually is in front of his teammates on fast breaks and will try and go 1 on 3 rather than wait for the other 4 guys and run a play. He’s a super athletic improviser. He’s not running plays. His lack of shooting range also hurts. His reckless plowing thru crowds without a clear path leads to silly and frustrating turnovers. But other than beating out a big for an easy rebound there’s no stat padding of rebounds or assists that “hurts” a team win. rebounds are additional possessions. Assists only occur when someone scores. It’s the other stuff. All we’ve come to realize is, at the end of the day, triple doubles are good but simply racking them up doesn’t make you an elite player and that while Dray, Simmons, Westbrook and Luka are all walking triple doubles candidates they all are unique and it’s the OTHER things they do that truly allows us to grasp their true greatness and ability.
He hurts the team when he stays in the game just to get triple doubles in a blow out games instead of resting and getting ready for next game as well as season end. Often, it’s apparent he is focused on stats and whenever that happens, you cant deny that you he is not always making the right plays. Finally, instead of trying to motivate and inspire teammates, he takes rebounds, assists, and points from these guys who are also trying to make a name for themselves and a living. How would they feel?? Not a winning atmosohere for sure.
Lol “that rebound was my rent money bro let me box out next time!”
I think taunts are fair game and westbrick is suitable considering his actual play.
I personally draw the at threats directed at him or his family. Anyone making threats needs to stop. Threats damage everyone’s sense of well Being and safety
There’s only one way a player can make the fans shut up or actually root for them…
Whoa what are you implying? Is that really appropriate…
Russ is having a good season, ignorant fans are the issue!
Ignorant fan ^
Look he brought Westbrick unto himself. I get fans are idiots and will over do it and cross the line. But as long as they are t cursing or threatening him. Not disrespecting his family at gms. It’s part of game. Security has to set the standard here. There’s so much that can be said. Really, you got adults acting like junk yard dogs. That have no respect for themselves. There’s a line imo.