Kid: “Are you a real NBA player?” Russ: “Some days. I used to be back in the day… back in my younger days.”
I’m ready for Westbrook’s lethal unc era
Big3 Westbrook would go crazy
Idk how but hed get at least 8 fast break points per game
I would hate that for him
It’s beneath him. But it would be entertaining
Why? That’s literally what the Big3 is for, recently retired (from NBA) players.
Because he’s a first-ballot hall of famer and that’s usually not the type of player we want to see playing in gimmick leagues
If you wanna get technical, with how the NBA works now, it’s basically a gimmick league also.
As someone who’s completely ignorant, is Big3 demeaning for a successful NBA player?
I dont see why it would be.
Me either. If you love the game why not continue playing it and get paid. Not everybody wants to peacefully retire.
If you love the game
Lotta people who don’t seem to understand the concept.
Too many mfers just playing for a check these days
Because there are a lot of people who believe that if you play basketball professionally anywhere else than the NBA, you are a useless bum.
My college classmates were making fun of a player who graduated and signed a contract in China. Fuck are yall laughing at? Dude signed a six figure contract to play a game he loves. Not quite making the NBA doesn’t mean you failed at your dream.
Yeah that’s crazy. Especially if he’s getting paid in American dollars. He can live like a King in China. 100,000 Dollars equals 673,000 Yuan.
Haha I remember teaching English in that country back in the day and getting paid peanuts by American standards, but still living like a friggin king, partying every night etc all while saving like a third of what I made
Because some people are very concerned with how others would perceive certain actions.
I don’t either unless people don’t believe in the program? I’ve just seen similar sentiment floating in the sub about Big3 whenever it’s mentioned for a successful player.
I don’t know if it’s demeaning but Big3 definitely feels gimmicky and not ‘true’ basketball. Might be better to play overseas, similar to Messi and Ronaldo.
Honestly, he would get into their HoF easily, and could make the Olympic team that was extremely embarrassing in the past.
Waiting for him to pull Beasley and just dominate LA Fitness
I don’t quite know how to verbalize this well, but he reminds me of all my favorite coaches (who were actually effective), somehow
I feel like there’s an intangibility there that’s impressive for someone who was that naturally gifted. Normally I feel like you don’t see that. Steve Kerr vs Michael Jordan is a good example….those who weren’t king shit had to avail themselves of more coaching and adapt from being the best player on highschool and potentially even college…..but Russ seems to have that energy in him
I’ll…..come back and edit this when the right exact words come to mind, hopefully
I wanna see videos of him just toying with hoopers in some random pro-am league.
Westbrook is definitely going to start using the “I’m your favorite player’s favorite player” line.
He’s definitely my favourite r/NBA commenter’s favourite player
No that’s Ben Simmons
The Coangelos are on Reddit?
That’s a normal collar. Move on. Find a new slant.
find a new slant
Is that the not so young socialite from the gossip subs?
No, it’s the fisherman who plays basketball in the summer.
Yeah she’s also my favorite r/NBA commenter
That was what they said about MF DOOM.
This was when the mask was brand spanking new Before it got rusted from drinking all the brew Stankin’ too
barz
Don’t make him sound like CM Punk or whatever. I don’t need to hear that in my head.
that smile when he turned to the camera is absolutely gold
The happiest I’ve seen him in a long time
No pressure, no grind, no press conferences, travel he chooses, events he chooses, no boss.
The man worked extremely hard his entire life and now gets to enjoy the spoils of that. He’s probably relaxed for the first time since he was a kid
Russ never felt any pressure. The grind is easy for him. He liked conferences, it was particular people he didn’t like. He never attended an event he didn’t like, most are his whynot foundations serving food for communities around OKC, or charities for kids and single mothers who need help with their kids. Russ was always his own boss out there which made him successful.
he’s happy quite often when the media isn’t in his face tbh. he’s a really great guy off the court who minds his own business and does a metric ton of community work in LA, OKC and I’m sure even some of the other cities he’s played in
Yeah he doesn’t have to deal with yall bullshit anymore
Mans from La. He knows how to play to a camera
He just Jim Halpert’d all of us.
What about Kawhi
This a real dude, his post career is going to very impactful
Idk if he has the height anymore
Against these cats he does
i loled
Never a fan of the player, but nobody can make me hate Russ the person. Was an absolute competitor balls to the wall every game and was fun as hell to watch. Never had many off court issues and gave back to the community more than most superstars can say.
You were never a fan of Russ as a player? Did you watch him play? Shit, his own worst enemies probably liked watching him at his prime.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Iy4dmscD3RQ?is=GSnllLDweBUZIikp
I love Russ the person unequivocally
I mean he also had such a passion for the game. Even if he wasn’t effective outside of his prime, dude always gave 100 percent everytime he was on the floor, which is more than half of the NBA can say. Russ was never lazy, and I will always give him props for that.
Russ’ biggest problem was that he needed the ball to be effective (kinda like A.I. back in the day )BUT his best seasons came when he was next to durant/harden - who are all time great offensive weapons.
Westbrooke’s skill set was more geared towards - put him on any team in the league and they will make the playoffs. This isnt something that all HOFers can say.
He’s 5th in career assists with 10.3k.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_career.html
Ahead of guys like Magic and Nash.
I was kinda shocked.
That’s a function of games and playing time. Per game: He’s over 3 APG behind Magic; only 0.5 APG behind Nash.
Per 36min, Nash clears by a full assist and Magic clears by a little over 2 assists.
Even still. I thought he’d be top 30 or so at best.
The double in triple double means 10 apg.
Yeah. But he is like 70th all time in boards. (Obviously wild for a player to be top 15 in points, top 5 in assists, and top 70 in boards) all time.
Because boards were easier back then due to constant bricks.
Russ was in no way a ball hog. he just needed the ball.
I remember him taking more shots per game than harden - houston / KD - okla. Harden was able to transition to more of a PG roll later.
I also generally get it. Russ used the fear of his own offensive prowess to draw defenders in, and then could pass out of that. BUT he was a score first PG - who had all time greats on his team.
most of durants best seasons were next to westbrook
and beal
and PG13
100% effort every time. Seriously don’t know another player I’ve seen like that. I wonder who the Westbrooks of other sports would be?
KG?
Me in pickup at my local court
I’m out there like a like 6’0 Tony Allen on defense
*I have no bag*
Jerry Rice for NFL
Seems like a good dude.
I had a friend that went to UCLA with him. They had a class together and she said he always was super nice and helpful and anytime he got swag he would bring it for everyone to have. He also kept the class stocked up on school supplies and snacks for everyone.
And during his NBA career he has done a ton of charity work that was mostly anonymous. He just wants to give back.
Yeah every anecdotal story I’ve heard from people that met him is he’s one of the nicest dudes ever. I think most people who played competitive sports know that one guy who is an absolute competitive dickhead in game and just a cool ass dude outside of it. That’s Russ
He’s an amazing dude. I sat next to him and two of his girls at the Four Seasons in Denver for breakfast on Christmas Eve’s ago and he was so freaking polite and generous with the wait staff. I also remember when the server brought his little girls out a plate of food he told them to say thank you. It was very sweet and they told me he tipped very well
Honestly that’s one of the biggest measures of people for me, how they treat service staff. Just makes me like him more.
Random and unrelated, E-40 is a really nice person and treats wait staff well
That’s awesome. Just looked at his wiki and apparently he’s been married for 35 years!
Straight loves ball, knowledgeable, every teammate he’s ever had at least loved his attitude and his hustle, if not always his game.
His on-court legacy is complicated but he’s 100% heart. I’m here for the weekly Russ podcast, day 1 subscribe.
I used to really dislike Russ because I wasn’t a complete fan of his game and his demeanor on the court at times. But man I’m such a fan now. He’s a good dude.
The worst you can say about him is that he’s a little short-sighted and kind of thin-skinned. But he really does seem like a great human being. I loved that when he was asked if he was “100% ball” as a kid that he said he was “100% school” because he knew how rare it is to get to play professionally and wanted to get an academic scholarship so he could get a college education and help his family. He seems like he lives life with passion and I think shows in this clip.
“Now watch this drive….”
Westbrook 2028
he just plows through 20 kids like bowling pins and yams it.
“I still got it.”
And some people don’t like this man?
Ppl didn’t like his play on the court late in his career. And that’s ok, these dudes get paid millions to play basketball.
Fans and media can criticize their basketball performance. Idk why ppl are acting like Russ is a victim of something
Because the NBA community did that thing were it went from legitimate criticism to hate. It’s insane because the community can recognize what Shaq did to Javale McGee was bullying but can’t realize the entire community essentially does the same thing to a ton of other players.
Russ was always antagonistic with the media. I get the sense he made a lot of petty enemies there, and it led to a lot of negative press sentiment for him. His interactions with the community and his love of the game seen above reproach though.
It’s not just the media though, it’s the fans. People have legitimate gripes or criticism but then they take it way too far and make it personal just look at any conversation revolving around Russ, Carmelo, Doc Rivers etc.
Like I don’t mind criticism or discussing a players flaws, but the way fans talk about certain players you would think they were Disney villains.
Since OP posted something positive about Westbrook, there will be 5 clips uploaded of him taking bad shots.
You already got dudes in responding to the same comment trying it so
After the triple double thing where they started to say he would get upset if you didn’t let him get the rebound etc. I could see it
I don’t like his game for how much he was hyped. But he seems like a genuinely good person and you gotta love him for that
WAY too many people confuse hating an actual human being and simple ass trash talking.
Literally nobody comes in and says Westbrook is a piece of shit person off the court for missing that shot. Dramatic as shit.
Wait kids are asking this question now??
at a camp with his name on the shirt
They’re kids. They ask all kinds of questions, including obvious ones.
Kids that age are still calling their teachers mom, and people are surprised they’re asking innocent questions like that lol
last week, my 10 y.o. son asked our new neighbors (who we’ve met like twice) if they’re planning on having kids. Buddy, we don’t know them like that yet lol
my god. they haven’t even heard of RAPTOR-WAR
Have you seen this kid at Kyle Kuzma’s camp?
https://youtu.be/XIBeFn1CemA
Kind of insane to think about
When I was little I went to an Alonzo Mourning basketball camp. I knew nothing about basketball but I at least knew the dude lol
I mean that particular kid was super super young looking. I’m not surprised like 6 year olds don’t know him.
Yeah so a 6-year old would’ve been born in 2020. That was 12 years after Westbrook’s rookie season lmao, he was playing at 32-years old when that kid was born.
Absolute gut punch when I saw this lol. I’m still not over the retirement and may never be
Holy shit that kid at the end is so fucking cute lmao, little man did the wacky waving arm flailing inflatable tube man thing!
Same kid that Russ was telling that he didn’t care if he messed up & he just wanted him to try. Russ seems like a good coach
the best way to teach kids is to teach them messing up and failing isnt a bad thing as long as you put the effort and try
Just have fun, win lose or draw
Totally. This actually made me realize for the first time that Russ has the potential to be an incredible pro coach one day, if he wants.
Imagine Russ doing random local Y runs for fun lmao
Travel the country challenging fans that talked shit online to a game of 1v1, Scalabrine style
he would still absolute smoke damn near anyone at rec pickup lol
We need to see this happen lol
Westbrook in his Unc time lol
A lot of these camps are just money grabs, but Russ is one of the only people I’d trust to make it worthwhile.
You can tell the kids are having a blast
Wayyyy back in the day, I went to MAGIC JOHNSON’S BASKETBALL CAMP. Well wouldn’t you know it, it was just some basketball camp with a bunch of random dudes as coaches and it was just a brand thing for Magic. I kind of get it now, but it really was advertised like we’d be learning from the man of himself. I think they were all around the country so he would have had to be Santa Claus to do that.
Man my parents sent me to basketball camp when I was a kid and the coaches were fucking mean. I wish they would have been like Westbrook is here, lol.
That was what I remember about basketball camp as a kid.
To this day, I know nothing about Southern Nazarene University. But it was removed from my college list, Nazarene was removed from my list of churches to try as an adult, and if for whatever reason my kids got a full ride there, I would tell them they shouldn’t go and I will pay for their full college to go anywhere else. Their basketball camp coach was quite possibly the meanest man I ever met as a kid. He’s probably dead of old age now unless hate makes you live longer, but I’m still scarred.
He’s probably dead of old age now unless hate makes you live longer
Henry Kissinger lived to be 100.
Uncs raise your hand if your summer basketball camp coach threw a basketball as hard as possible at you all
You used to be Mel Clark?
Yeah, I used to be…
First thing I thought of lol
He seems like a good dude from afar.
As far as im aware no scandals or teammate stories or anything. And he absolutelynplays the way a fan would play.
From all accounts he was a stellar teammate.
Ya thats good. I also think “why not?” is legitimately an all time slogan for any athlete ever, especially given he dropped it with the triple double season and exploded with the fashion stuff.
Its cool af and inspiring and he showd how in both ways
LMAO
They’ll never make me hate you Russ
Never even considered Russ as a coach, but he’s got it. I say this as someone who’s been a tennis coach and university teacher you know a good one when you see it.
Anyone taught by him would run through a wall.
Coach Westbrook
Hell yeah 🥹
Watching this shit at midnight in my bed in Australia. Just makes me smile man.
I’ve said before that sometimes you can forget what you have in life, and sharing it with others who appreciate it is a way to remind you. Like letting a kid check out your car if you have a nice car, or taking someone out to eat, or putting an app on your parent’s phone when they wouldn’t know how to do it, sharing what your life is like for someone in another country if they’ve thought about living where you live (or vice versa). This reminds me of that. Russ might have forgotten his cynicism in that moment when he heard how that kid said that.
I always liked Russ infinite hustle but this video has endeared me to him more than anything
I guess other than the “whatchu talking about man” clip
I hope Russ plays in the Big 3. Bro would be cooking them old heads
He’s a great coach!
Russ is such a sweetheart
Love to see it.
Ok, which one of you asked him that?
The most wholesome shit you could ever do as a retired NBA star. Big up Russ!!
Damn.
Father Time is cruel and undefeated.
Does Russ actually unironically have an incredible sense of who he is? With his announcement video and even that small little comment to a kid at camp, it feels like this dude who we all (or at least I) thought that was kind of a maniac, may be a lot more grounded and have a great understanding of himself.
This video weirdly makes me happy, even having no connection with Russ or any of his teams.
it’s almost like what we see on the court and in the media is but a small sliver of who these men are
glimpses of russ’s humility and who he is as a man have been there, for those who cared to see it
from picking up the chores of his dead friend, khelcey barrs, by mowing his grandmother’s lawn
to the fact that he’s had a quiet family life, protecting the privacy of his college gf/wife and his children
to his community activity in both LA and OKC, which continued after he left the Thunder
to stories of how he treats the average person: team training staff, nutritional staff and chefs, waitstaff, cleaning staff, etc. - he famously tipped the cleaning staff at the Disney resort during the COVID playoffs extremely well
In my younger days I used to sport a shag
“You used to be Mel Clark.” “Yeah, kid… used to be.”
Probably hurts to say that
Westbrook is one of my all time favorite players.
Dude would run through a brick wall for his team 🔥
Never understood any of the hate he got, if everyone played as hard as him every night the game would be in a better place.
I feel bad for the haters.
Old man snake vibes
How can you not love this dude
good for brodie, he seem alot happier tbh
Do these camps have a low income program or scholarships?
I’m so glad I appreciated him while he played, but I’m still gonna miss him now that he’s retired.
How damn now this is coaching, awesome to see.
Teammates, team staff, fans who met him, almost all said what a nice dude Russ is.
Such a good dude.
He seems like a really excellent coach. Encouraging, disciplined, and holds players to a high standard.
Was that Jim-esque turn to the camera? Russ may have a new career.
So nice of Russ to take these redditors under his wing
Look at him being engaged and not just going through the motions. Class act. I’m a converted fan now.
He looks like hes 25 years old
Westbrook is a good man
My dumb ass was thinking how tf this kid don’t know russ. Then it just hit me that my little cousin was born the year of russ mvp season. Well shit
Unlike Dwight Howard who makes a scene when someone doesn’t know who he is.
Really would be a great youth coach. He did a great job communicating some very basic stuff in a positive way that led to immediate results. Helped get the kids to want to learn.
Its giving Johnny Manziel “I’m just a guy now”… :‘(
i love Russ. This reminds me of that video of Justin Jefferson coaching up some high school or college kids on some techniques. Love of the game type shit.
At least he’s honest
I read this as KD at first and that was funnier
How much does a camp like this cost?
Awesome
coach russ!
I hope Westbrook do some tv man. He is such a personality
Imagine having your child tutored by Westbrook. Lifelong memories.
His happiness and enthusiasm seems so real. God I love Russell Westbrook
Now I do what I want, but at what cost
I respect he retire instead of going to Tel Aviv team
Imagine going to a AAU basketball tournament and playing against Russ’ team and he’s screaming on the sidelines. Good times.
This is just joyful. Really great to see.
I wish he would go play a year in Greece so dominate euroleague
russ is about to turn into obi wan
Russ is such a good dude, I hope he takes care of himself so he can enjoy 50 years of retirement
i swear this kind of self awareness makes someone instantly more likable to me 😭 he could’ve given the kid a serious answer and instead chose comedy
If Russ hadn’t been a basketball player I think he would’ve been a teacher, and he would have been incredible.
Dude gets such an outsized amount of hate for being such a class act AND an incredible baller.
If only he could swallow his pride and just be a locker room vet
Russ seems like a genuinely nice and well-adjusted guy.
damn bruh Russel doing this now
Coach Westbrook has a lot of potential
Fans who only consume the NBA through TikTok are shocked that he’s not making these kids cry
Russ is a good dude
“Some days.”
Famous last words - or perhaps an NFL coach now?
Either way, that ain’t John Wall.
Long live wild wild WESTBROOK!!
My cousin pitched an idea to have Westbrook come back to the thunder but work in Presti’s office evaluating talent. I think Russ would be great at that role but man if I also love the idea of Russ as a players coach or trainer
i thought he was dame
BRODIE!
We got old friends.
Can you imagine getting coached up by a NBA star who seems like he’s actually into it like Russ is? I remember the difference between having a coach who played D1 and a coach who was a teacher and principal doing triple duty. The latter was doing his best, but the former, you just can’t match it.
Boom, roasted.
I feel that cut in my soul.
Thinks video makes me think Russ would make an awesome *college* coach. He’s got the positivity and his time in OkC makes me think he would like being a long-term cornerstone of the community.
“Use the square!”
All dads (Me) with kids that play say this at least 50 times per practice.