When Russell Westbrook Challenged Reporters To Make Their Criticisms In Front of Him
I don’t care what anyone says I like having Russ on the Kings.
He was a good fit for the Kings. Maybe fit isn’t the right word. But he was a net positive in what was a terrible season overall
Is it a crazy thing to say that he was your best player last year?
On some given nights for sure. I would say he is the most hardworking/hustle guy. He really never gave up on plays, great guy for our younger guys to learn that from
Russ could be down 40 points and he’ll still battle to the bitter end. One of his biggest strengths is he has a bigger heart and hustle gene than almost anyone on the floor at any given time
And it’s been that way forever.
I remember watching his freshman year at UCLA, and he earned his way onto the court with hustle and athleticism.
Been a fun ride watching him play for 20 years.
russ has been my favorite player since the moment i started paying serious attention to the nba again as an adult, and the first jersey i ever got was his ucla one
plus that okc team w him & pg was nasty on 2k, even if they underwhelmed in real life
I remember my first 2k I got drafted to the Thunder as a SG and absolutely hated Russ because he did everything. Dude was always in front of me doing what I wanted to do, and that’s what made me a fan when I watched him actually play.
This is the reason I want him back with OKC. Our current team just kinda accepts defeat sometimes in the playoffs. I would like someone to teach them how to just be a complete asshole who doesn’t stop believing in themselves even when down big
But Russ doesn’t want to sit on the bench every game. He wants to play as much as he can and he deserves it for how hard he pushes everyone around him and the effort he gives.
I loved having him in Denver. He gets some crap because he doesn’t always make the right play but damn does he go all out all night.
He seemed quite additive there. I wish they’d have kept him.
I know SGA has the hardware, but as a Thunder fan Russ is still my MVP.
Always will be. The way he handled KD leaving will never be forgotten. Happy Russell Westbrook day!
The way he handled it, and the way he put the entire season on his back and basically sheer-force-of-willed us into a winning season and his own MVP.
Say what you will about him, but he has been one of the hardest workers in basketball since he was drafted. There’s a reason that MJ in 2016 said he saw his younger self in Russ.
Absolutely he’s one guy I will always watch if he’s playing. He seems to be one of the only guys left who cares about hustle and trying his ass off for better or worse.
My gut says no. But you know, you might be right. He just might have been. Still actively trying to wipe the memory of that putrid season away. But he definitely made going to games worth it. Him, Precious Achiuwa and Max Reynaud stood out the most to me
Maxime reynaud said himself russ played a big part in his development.
I’ve heard the same thing from multiple other players who played with him
Yup. Rookies and younger guys loved Russ. Won’t hear me (or most fans I know) say a bad thing about the guy. Consummate professional.
In Sam Anderson’s book about the Russ-KD-Harden Thunder, he talks about Russ knowing and having a nickname for everyone in the organization. That made me a fan for life because that’s cool as shit for a star player to do
Do we know what he called KD
Tbh he is a net positive in most everywhere he’s been. Most of his criticism is with contract value and not the player himself. He was absolutely not the move with the Lakers because of what they gave up and how much he was paid, although i still see the vision behind what they wanted. Westbrook is a top tier passer and battery player to pair with AD while Lebron sits sounds good on paper, it just didnt really work cause his contract wasn’t the value of what he brought it. It didn’t help that AD wasnt around for like 50% that year to actually pair him with westbrook who would have been an awesome pick and roll partner for AD and is why i think they brought him to LA.
He was great for Denver last year too. They were rubbish before he started getting minutes, he just naturally lifts your pace and intensity, and Denver before that were laconic. He doesn’t have it in him anymore for a larger role but he’s a great bench piece.
His experience and hustle combined with Jokic’s basketball savant skills was fun to watch, even if they didn’t play a ton of minutes together.
I swear every team he’s been of, their fan base has said this
Maybe I’m misremembering but didn’t Lakers fans dislike the Westbrook experience?
Russ was a max contract on the lakers and was emphatically not worth it, it’s a different experience when he’s on a vet min
Yeahhh that’s a little different. He had a big contract and because of that, the Lakers used him as a scapegoat for all their problems when he was with them.
Idk if Rockets fanbase feels that way. I think your statement applies more to CP3 than Russ.
I do too. He certainly deserves better but I loved having him here.
I miss him.
Loved Russ for the wizards year
This video doesn’t really capture what exactly did Russ want the stumbling reporters to say on camera what they are more comfortable writing about. I sill don’t know what about what other stuff was said when Russ says “that’s not the only thing that you said.”
Only wish we could’ve done better for him
He plays hard and plays with 110% effort which is why I like him
Love him on the Wizards for the season he was here
That reporters voice all crackin 😂😂
The unfortunate part is that reporter has never said anything negative about Westbrook and is probably the nicest media member we have. His voice cracks often like that too normally lol. For some reason Westbrook went hard on him, instead of the actual radio host (Matt George) that was talking shit.
Aw now I feel bad for him knowing this
Outside of making a big play I’ve never seen Russ not extremely pissed off. He’s been in arguments with media for every team and network, arguing with fans in every stadium. His life rules but it seems like he’s choosing to be miserable all the time.
My fav quote “Tried to get Russell Westbrook in the locker room to see he had made a decision on his player option for next season. He looked at his watch and asked what I was wearing tomorrow. When I said I didn’t know, he said “exactly” and walked off.”
I caught that too hahaha
*Clears throat*
And it was still cracking after that. 😂
I was like, “try clearing again.”
It sounds like the fry cook from the Simpsons all grown up
Say what you want about how his career went. I like Russ.
He seems like a genuinely nice dude who loves basketball. The games better when he’s hooping and happy, it was so shit when he got the yips and everyone was calling him Westbrick. I’m sure that didn’t help him mentally.
I mean not a single one of his teammates has said anything negative about him. Including KD.
Lebron did but in his snake ass behind-your-back type of way, feeding to his media mouthpiece to write an article calling Westbrook a locker room vampire
thats why Westbrook singles out Lebron to trash talk whenever he matched up vs. Lakers and said him and Lebron aren’t on speaking terms anymore
Entirely agree. I would bet money that he broke his hand and just didn’t tell people. His shooting fell off a cliff like overnight. With how hard he dunked for so many years there’s no chance he doesn’t have some ligament damage.
I would bet money that he broke his hand and just didn’t tell people.
Did you start watching him for the first time this year?
He has broken his hand and openly talked about it. Multiple times.
There’s no conspiracy theory. He’s never been a good shooter and then he got old. That’s why his shooting dropped off a cliff.
Westbrook will forever be my favorite non-Warrior player of the past generation.
I’d rather be in front of a bullet than in front of Prime Russ driving to the rim off a fast break.
So would the bullet train.
Edit: I read it as bullet train instead of bullet, but it works either way.
He rules. I was at an OKC - MIN game a bit over a decade ago, where KD dropped 50, but Russ was the most baffling thing to see live, because his courtspeed is truly incredible. Never seen anything like it.
He dunks like the rim owes him money
9x All Star, 2x Scoring Champ, 3x AST Champ, 9x All-NBA, 2008-09 All-Rookie 2x AS MVP, 2016-17 MVP, NBA 75th Anniv. Team.
Frankly, the greatness of Russell Westbrook’s career isn’t up for debate. People talk so much shit about a player just because he wasnt Michael Jordan. He’s an all time BALLER.
[removed]
you are hiding a criticism
Let Durant come home!
Russ never on the Epstein files so i don’t think so.
He just like me during my performance review
Now’s the time. Say it!
Like me reading student evaluations then seeing students on campus.
Westbrook has a legitimate gripe, because he has gone from team to team and been a great teammate and has tried to win games. Irrational heat checks sure, defensive gambles yes, but I’d rather have someone who gives a shit than the Deandre Aytons, Jeff Teagues, D’Angelo Russell’s of the world who don’t care.
The only people who seem not to have gotten along in a significant way with him in his career are Durant and Lebron, and both are known for making their teammates uncomfortable.
And even with all that KD never said a bad word about Russ, even on the damn burners. He might’ve felt a certain way regarding his play, but he respected him enough to always defend him
Cocaine bear is not an insult. You’re correct.
Tbf even right after KD left OKC you had Durant’s comments that were meant for his burners were complimentary of Russ. The “KD can’t win with those cats” comment even started with “Imagine taking Russ off that team, see how bad they are” + you also had KD and CP3 postgame interview a few years ago defending Russ. Durant’s issues were more of with the organization/roster management vs issues with Russ.
Has KD ever said anything about OKC trading Harden? I imagine that’s when he started to think he was gonna leave. They traded harden to save a few bucks. Those players all thought they would be a dynasty together
They touched on it on starting 5. KD and Harden were boys and harden still says it hurts to this day they just up and hung him out to try
He did. He was pissed and said everyone else was happy because they knew the 3 of them were coming up and about to take over the league.
This drove me crazy for years, people online bein like “even KD on his burners was shit talkin Russ 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣” like he didn’t actually say the exact opposite lol that’s when I started to realize a large portion of NBA “fans” online have no idea what they’re talkin about and just talkin out of their asses
LeBron? All of Bron’s teamates liked him though.
Lebron fed his media mouthpiece to write an article calling Westbrook a locker room vampire lol
Do you think he was great on the Lakers?
Bro this comment just isn’t smart at all for a team that wants to win basketball games.
Like you’re coming at LeBron and KD when all they want to do is win. Westbrook is fine going out there and just having fun.
Does Russ play like he’s out there just having fun? Because most people would say Russ is objectively one of the hardest working high motor players that goes hard until the final buzzer. People with brain would understand him giving that speech to the Lakers was more about trying to increase morale during a rough time and rally the troops.
one of the hardest working high motor players that goes hard until the final buzzer.
On offence. He’s never been a highly active defender
This is one of the biggest revisions of Russ career. People swear he was always a good defender because he looked like he was defending, but he was awful on defense
He trick yall
Every accusation is a confession lol
But he does dumb shit that loses you games, I really dont care if some dude is buzzing around the court if his impact is hurting us, it’s just a lot of running for nothing.
Ayton, Teague, D’Angelo is a pretty low bar for a past MVP though.
Why Teague tho?
Teague gon snitch
What’s he actually complaining about here? Seems like the video starts after some relevant context to understand what’s being discussed.
I respect it. I’m giving you the opportunity to address shit TO MY FACE and you’re folding. No one stands on shit these days lol.
This is how the Cleveland Browns media is to a T. They think because they cover a bad team they’ve got all the answers and can be really dismissive about everything, because that’s a winning strategy for them. But then a lot of them want to be all chummy in pressers. Like, if you’re going to call out Myles’ leadership on your segmentless, rambling podcast you recorded at a local Chic-fil-a, then why not ask him to his face why he was such an absent leader?
And this type of stuff is exactly what Russ what getting at. they’re saying that oh this player doesn’t like this player for x reason and THATS why they don’t pass well enough as a team, things like that. It’s just nonsense and they act like they have inside info because they are local.
They can always dish it out but can never take it lol
Always. And there’s a few who I think are pros and are good. But far too many of them are extremely sloppy/mediocre at their own job and are on their sixth podcast. Like at what point do you look in the mirror and say, “My work isn’t much better than their work.”
I could say the same for brick man after he said “we don’t need to go down that route.” After the reporter (validly) asked “like what have I said?”
I think Russ and the beat reporter both know exactly what speculative nonsense has been written in articles and passed off as insider knowledge, and Russ was inviting him to say it to his face. Maybe I’m wrong and Russ is just being crazy I don’t really know who the reporter he was talking to is
agreed, i mean i would need more context to say for sure but just going off this clip it seems like a case of russ just being salty that reporters are reporting on his and the teams poor performance and trying to intimidate or “win” an encounter with the reporter using just rhetoric
how you gonna go “oh you talk about a lot more than our offense and defense” and then respond to “like what?” with “i dont wanna go down that route”
Kinda the whole point of what reporters do, they report on local sports and news. Are they supposed to have a one on one with every player they critique?
Reporting and critiquing are entirely different things. Russ’s pushback and attitude toward media through his career is all about how sports journalists editorialize like they’re opinion writers, fuel the rumor mill, add their own assumptions and character judgements of players instead of, you know, actually reporting facts.
He’s always hated how sports “journalism” messes with the locker room chemistry, adding nothing of value to the sport itself.
I’m curious if people on Reddit have ever actually followed local reporters and how they cover sports lol. It can be super gossipy and harsh, then the guys just show up to pressers acting nice so they can get small tidbits for hit pieces.
I think he means stand on what you’ve written. “Russ, I’ve criticized you for X and Y, but I want to be fair to you — what’s your take on ______”
What, write hate pieces bc it sells clicks then clam up like a toddler that shit his diaper when face to face with the person they write professional hit pieces on?
Either stand on it or don’t, reporter is a huge pussy and deeply weak human
Did this reporter write hate pieces? Or did Russ pick a random reporter without having any clue whether he actually wrote something?
Because it sure seemed like that is what Russ did.
Including you, internet tough guy
Kings fan here. I wouldn’t mind Russ coming back for a season or two.
hell yeah
For someone who can be sensitive to criticism, Russ remains so likable for me. I think he just feels so genuine, competitive and wears his emotions on his sleeves.
Yup. I’ll be the first to admit his game had a lot of flaws and he reacts to much with media/opposing fans. But goddamn that dude went out and gave it his all in every single game
When he stayed with ya’ll after KD left and gave everything. I mean everything. He didn’t have to stay. He tried his hardest. He wanted so badly to lift OKC out of the darkness. He’s a hero. He was never the best player in the league but that year he won the MVP, he was the most valuable player in the league.
I will always love Russ because he always plays harder than anyone on the court. I love watching players like him. One of my favorite players of all time!
I just wish he could have gotten a ring with us. Such a great player and teammate who gives maximum effort on the court. And his stuff with the community is amazing as well. Criticism is fair but the media always went way overboard with it.
First sentence had me on skates til I realized we’re not in r/kings
I didn’t watch him this last year, but with the nuggets he had some highs and lows. I feel like okc should sign him to finish out his career. Doesn’t feel right him bouncing team to team. He would have thrown the same bricks wiggins and Joe had in the wcf finals.
I don’t know if he’d take an end of bench role or not and min dollars. Could be good for vibes and leadership but unfortunately not sure he’d bring much to this team. I would like to see it though especially if we can pull another title before he retires. To me it’s tough to pick between sga and Russ as my goat. Russ stayed so long but obviously wasn’t able to bring a title.
I don’t understand what he’s trying to say here. The reporters are frustrated with having to cover a shit team just about every year & they critique the team as such, what is wrong with that? lol
Because the things they say are insincere. He’s giving them a chance to ask about the concerns they have to his face, but they don’t have any actual questions. The uncertainty they stir up with articles and talking head stuff is all garbage, but it still effects the actually humans playing on these teams.
They’re becoming tabloids and he’s giving them a chance to be actual journalists to his face, but they are literally stumbling over themselves to get a full sentence out.
Bingo. They aren’t factual sports reporters, they’re “soap operas for men” story writers.
Fan fiction writers with delusions of grandeur
Yup. And it’s gotten so much worse since Disney bought espn.
What’s insincere exactly?
Just all the fluff stuff where they speculate about why people aren’t playing well, or like speculate about the players lives and whatnot. It’s tabloid stuff. They don’t actually approach the game or players seriously. He was giving them a chance to ask those questions, but they’d rather keep the ability to speculate so they have something to write.
I don’t mean insincere like lies, it’s just that it’s all for clicks. Not things they honestly think.
Right. I see it as Russ criticizing the media as a whole. These media guys get paid to generate engagement. Unfortunately, sometimes the best way to do that is to drum up imagined drama and speculate on bullshit.
They were being speculative somewhat about player motivations/character and it was disturbing the younger players-and probably Russ himself-that’s why he did this.lol.
my take from this is there’s no real reporting going on here. he starts off with the mention of their record and such which russ acknowledges as something that has been apparent for a stretch now, so it’s nothing new. i think the point he’s trying to make is you have the stage, why not take it from a different angle and ask something that could lead to different insights, instead of baiting him to feel negative and speak negatively about the team he’s on?
Yeah lol Kings being shit is not a subjective thing
This is fair. But it’s also worth considering that Russ is being confrontational to be confrontational. He would probably not give a good faith answer regardless of the veracity of whatever criticism the reporter would have had. Russ has never responded to public criticism well on any front. But that’s who he is, and that’s part of why he’s achieved the success he’s had. And it’s also worth mentioning that it’s also part of why he probably hasn’t had more success later in his career. But all of that wrapped together is why I will always love this motherfucker. He’s the fucking man.
He was kind of in the middle of being blamed for all the Lakers failures. I don’t think he was out of line being confrontational, and he was doing it in an actually pretty considerate way. He was respectful and polite that whole time. I don’t mind his directness at all.
Russ rocks.
I think he’s trying to say there’s more than just on court critique going on with them by the media. I’m not saying there is, I don’t follow them so I’m not aware, but that’s what I got from it. He mentioned the young guys a couple times so maybe fake trade rumors, fake attitude stories?
The reporter said “you’re bad, how do you respond?”
Did you watch the whole video or just the first 30 seconds.
people forget Russ was putting up triple-doubles like clockwork that season and instead of appreciating it, the media spent all year questioning if it mattered. i remember thinking back then — if you’re gonna call a guy out, at least say it to his face
I mean they were right lmao we were getting endless stories about the triple doubles but it wasn’t leading to anything meaningful. Do you expect reporters to just praise it and ignore the lack of winning part?
And then it turns out it didn’t really matter. So…I dunno they were…right in the end?
The problem is these guys get paid 40 million a year, all it takes is one butthurt guy going “fuck that reporter for coming after me” and dude loses his job or something. Like I get why they’re not just shooting at these guys.
I mean he started his question by saying they had the worst record in the league and Russ started getting in his feelings and cutting him off. Sounds like he was calling him out to his face to me!
I have dealt poker to russ a couple dozen times and every single time he comes in he is the most humble and respectful person. I have nothing but love for him.
Did he tip well?
He tipped better than average but nothing crazy
I heard he loves PLO. I’ve heard stories of him and AD and others gambling hahahah
He usually comes in asking if we could start a plo game for him if we didnt already have it running. Our 5⁄10 players always change their game for him.
Bro was SHOOK. Voice cracking and shaking.
I wonder if the players know that the media heads, especially local media, make quite a lot less money during bad seasons due to a lacking of clicks. I also dont quite understand this pop off by Russ, sounds like that reporter has said accurate things.
Russ is a baby
Ever since he cried about “Russel Westbrick” literally the softest and most accurate negative nickname ever applied, but did it behind “Oh I don’t want my KIDS to hear it” it’s hard to take him too seriously, he just whines at the slightest critique.
Dude I am well aware Russell played very badly on the Lakers but the media and fans were RUTHLESS to him during that period lmao. Pretending it was just the silly nickname is pretty ridiculous. It was a combination of everything going on and the fact people were consistently being super disrespectful to his face. He’s not even complaining about criticism he’s receiving in this vid, not sure if you actually watched the video or not, I’m assuming not.
*insert Russ locker room meme*
I this like when he told people to call him Westbrick to his face and then didn’t do shit when they did?
Nah, he doesn’t do nothing, he throws them out of the arena lmao
Found myself impressed with how he was handling that. The heat reporter came up short imho.
Reminded me of “I’m a man I’m 40” from Gundy. Basically, “give me all the heat, I’m the leader. Tell me to my face.”
I’ve never liked Russell Westbrook’s game. It just doesn’t jive with me. But I respect his game, effort, hustle, and that he always gives everything 110%. And I appreciate the way he carries himself as a man, especially after he had kids; it seemed to mature him a lot.
Westbrook defenders will never make sense to me.
He is the most frustrating superstar in my lifetime since his downfall has all been his doing.
What are people defending that doesn’t make sense to you?
The Westcratic method
I agree completely. He doesn’t play winning basketball, hasn’t improved his game. He’s the same player now as he was ten years ago, just a worse version. Horrible, lazy, dumb defender, low efficiency scorer, why do people love him so much?
Russ is the most underrated presence in the NBA in NBA history. He is a true dog and spits facts like nobody has. I would love to have him on the Hawks this year in 20 years. Sign that Mofro and get them on my team.
Russ is not my ideal type of basketball player in terms of play style but he’s an ideal teammate, and in a way an ideal basketball player because he really cares.
I fuckin love Russy.
“Bottom 3 in offense and defense all year”
“Perfect”
Is it? That’s perfect for you? You sit there pouting and throwing one of your little tantrums and that’s how you respond to being called out for your team’s deficiencies?
Tbf I don’t think that reporter even asked a question. I can see why Russ was annoyed, must be dealing with a hack.
“Russ, you guys suck donkey dick. Thoughts?”
Russ is my goat and I will never feel differently. He’s an awesome person, he’s authentic, and in his prime there was no one ever like him on the basketball court.
So, what did Russ say that was inflammatory? Russ never slandered or talked shit about the guy. If anything, I found that to be a high quality leadership stand from the player. Essentially, “yeah we’re bad, what commentary are you wanting from me?”. The media guy is looking for some corny click bait shit because that’s the only clicks he’ll get because the team sucks. Russ knows that
I like Russ.
Russ ain’t never done nothing but give his 110% and he is grossly overhated
110%
*unless he’s on defense or doesn’t have the ball in his hands
Always loved Russ
That reporter sounded absolutely terrified when it was his turn to speak 😂😂
Caps lock talkin online and his voice BROKE when he got called out lmao
Doesn’t matter if Russ is right or wrong here. You can’t stutter and have voice cracks when put on the spot like that
He’s so unlikable
Russ you should make a team that has sucked ass for 20 years be good again, they still suck, and now it’s your fault voice cracking noises
Well that was awkward
Based. I think reporters should have to show their face on camera and state their name and what media outlet they’re reporting for before they ask an athlete a question in a press conference. Put your name on it, stand on what you say, and address athletes respectfully.
They generally do say their name.
they literally always say their name and their outlet
Westbrick is pathetic. This is basically when a Karen is asking to see the manager in Walmart.
First guy folded so hard lmao
mfs go on hush mode😭😭
Reporter said you guys suck at everything and Russ said “yeah so what else you have to say??” Bro he literally said everything lol
“I think you guys are trying to have success, yeah…”
“Ok cool. That’s good. What about you? What you think?”
Idk why this had me laughing so hard hahaha
Russ all sensitive
Literally what any Redditor would sound like when asked to speak the fuck up in real life. Pathetic
I love Russ. Most underrated superstar of the teens at this point.
Russ would be a great fit for the Pistons
That was Gangsta!! Did you hear the 1st guy choke up? 😂 🤣 😜
Russel Westbrook and losing, like love and marriage
Sports writers and sports radio guys are the ultimate posers. Acting all tough and the minute the have to face one of the guys they have savaged, they fold like cheap tents.
I’ve loved watching Russ play throughout his career. The anger he played with. The dunks. Oh my god the dunks.
But I’ve resigned myself to the fact he’s just not a winning player. His impact on the game is more about the entertainment factor he brings to the games. Not the results. He’s had heaps of personal success but not really much in the way of team success. I would love him to finally get a championship one day, but his biggest weakness has always been his inability to play to his strengths, the ones that positively impact his team’s success. For example, he’s a career 30% 3 point shooter. Worse in the playoffs. But he still keeps jacking them up. Oh well. Thanks for the memories Russ. I’ll always cherish watching you play. Oh those dunks.
They should be worth 3 points.
Russell pointing out that sports journalism is human waste 🤌
“I can only speak for myself”
Then why tf you asking dumb ass questions like that?
I’ll always be a Russ guy. HOF no doubter. All time great and one of the most exciting players to watch ever.
He axin
The Knicks had a 17-65 season in 2019. Now they have won the championship.
“I’m akskin…” like Mayweather talk
Bro had him shaking like a stripper rent is due.
I Am from Sacramento (left in 2001 though) and I honestly just now learned that Westbrook is on the Kings.
I love Russ man. For real.
Sacramento been ass before Russell Westbrook got there. They just love to pick on Russell.
What sticks out for me is that we as fans rarely see players highlighting this aspect of what the players go through. Please dont start with “they’re getting payed millions” yeah we know. It sheds transparency into what are the hard parts of their job. Especially the mental side of it where we only have a handful of players - you know the ones, talking about it openly. Say whatever you want for Westbrook but this is good for the sport. The media is there to stir things up, actual reporting about x’ and o’s and not tabloid stuff would bring more fans to the sport.
I Iove Russ. Sports media in the US is mostly trash, I’m happy to see him call out their bullshit.
By far one of the most composed moments I’ve ever seen from Westbrook.
The feeling whenever your getting called out by the triple double cocaine bear…
Wow Russ is growing finally. Good for him.
Russ is a real one. Always has been. He’d make a good coach.