[Noh] The hidden side of Russell Westbrook: NBA’s most hostile interview is also its kindest teammate
Where the media sees a wall with Westbrook, teammates see a bridge. Many players who have played alongside him cite him as their favorite teammate ever and someone who brought people together. Clint Capela, who was with Westbrook for only 35 games, is one of them. He called Russ “the most genuine superstar” that he’s ever played with.
“Very happy person. Very nice guy,” Capela told me. “Always smiling, always joking around. I was like wow, I never thought that a superstar could also be that great of a guy.”
Capela once noted that he loved an expensive bracelet that Westbrook was wearing. Westbrook immediately took it off his wrist and handed it to him as a gift.
Alex Abrines played three years alongside Westbrook. It was a difficult time in Abrines’ career, where he was plagued by loneliness. Abrines told Cope that “Westbrook was incredibly kind to me. When I wanted to quit, he took me out to dinner, and it was great.”
Another Oklahoma City teammate, Jerami Grant, echoed Abrines’ beliefs. “He’s just real. He’s a real person. And he cares about all his teammates. He tries to understand who you are as a person and pushes you to be the best.”