Russell Westbrooks fall

[greg683x]

I’m interested to see if anyone here feels the same way I do about all this, I’ll try not to be too long winded

Is anyone else here taking a real pleasure in seeing Russell Westbrook have just a massive fall from grace this year?

I really try not to take pleasure in other peoples misfortune, especially someone that’s done nothing to me personally. In Westbrooks case too, he’s never had any big clashes with the Celtics in the post season or otherwise that would trigger any kind of hatred like I’ve had with Lebron, or to even go farther back, Jason Kidd.  So it’s weird for me when I try and rationalize why this is so funny to me.

I’ve told people for years that I can’t stand Westbrook bc I feel like he’s the perfect example for what’s wrong with athletes today.  Someone that seemingly doesn’t care about anyone but himself, has made a career of putting great stats but seems to be a terrible teammate and teams seem to get better when he leaves.  A guy who talks a lot of trash when things are good but gets quiet when things aren’t or just deflects any kind of blame.

I know there are other mainstream guys that have had selfish personas and falls from grace.  But this is just an abrupt fall for him this season and it’s been very personal and VERY public, and for someone who can’t stand the guy it’s been entertainment, especially since you have it happening on the lakers as well.

You see last night that there seems to be other NBA players who don’t have much love for him either.  Beverly literally yelling out HES TRASH on the court and plugging his nose and even KAT mugging for the cameras mocking his airball.

Does all this put a smile on anyone else’s face? Or am I just a terrible human being? Lol

[ozgod]

[bdm860]

I'm definitely enjoying the show.

Westbrook has always played hard, but he's always come off like an abrasive, ornery bully (googling things like "Westbrook jerk" or "Westbrook bully" returns plenty of results).  To me he has always seemed like one of the least likeable stars, so seeing the tables now turned is enjoyable. 

A lot of players have been jerks, but figured out how to age gracefully and accept lesser roles, Westbrook's inability to do that only adds fuel to this dumpster fire.  And his family getting offended too about media/fans criticizing his play just makes this whole thing so much more hilarious.  The fact that it's bringing down the Lakers/LeBron too, just makes the whole thing a perfect storm.

(Also some of his ridiculous fashion choices do nothing to help his appeal).


And while a player like KG is also a notorious jerk/bully, he does a better job of keeping it to the court/behind the scenes.  A guy like KG knows how to play well with the media/fans, making him a whole lot more likeable (also playing a much more selfless style helps too).

[greg683x]

I'm definitely enjoying the show.

Westbrook has always played hard, but he's always come off like an abrasive, ornery bully (googling things like "Westbrook jerk" or "Westbrook bully" returns plenty of results).  To me he has always seemed like one of the least likeable stars, so seeing the tables now turned is enjoyable. 

A lot of players have been jerks, but figured out how to age gracefully and accept lesser roles, Westbrook's inability to do that only adds fuel to this dumpster fire.  And his family getting offended too about media/fans criticizing his play just makes this whole thing so much more hilarious.  The fact that it's bringing down the Lakers/LeBron too, just makes the whole thing a perfect storm.

(Also some of his ridiculous fashion choices do nothing to help his appeal).


And while a player like KG is also a notorious jerk/bully, he does a better job of keeping it to the court/behind the scenes.  A guy like KG knows how to play well with the media/fans, making him a whole lot more likeable (also playing a much more selfless style helps too).

KG was always a guy you could tell left it all on the court and didn’t care how many assists or rebounds he had, as long as his team won.  Yes he was obnoxious at times but he was always someone you loved if he was on your team.  Same can be said about Smart and maybe even to a lesser degree Patrick Beverly, since his name comes up around Westbrooks a lot.

Russell Westbrook I’ve always felt winning was a nice bonus to him but the main priority was maintaining his stats.  No better proof than videos of teammates actively getting out of his way so he can get the rebound and him pouting when someone doesn’t shoot when he passes them the ball.  The best comparison I can probably think of for RW is probably Stephon Marbury, both with personality and steep decline.  I’ll say this about Marbury though, he was a guy I never wanted on the Celtics and was disappointed when he came here, but he handled his reduced role and coming off the bench a lot better than I would have thought.

[celticsclay]

I am curious if he is truly done, or if part of this is from a really bad fit and really bad players around him.

[nickagneta]

Hilarious that Seattle/OKC drafted and had all three of Durant, Harden and Westbrook on the team for years and all three guys are considered some of the biggest, major league prima donna, dirt bags(using dirt because the other d word gets profanitized out)in the league today for various reasons. No wonder they couldn't keep that trio together.

[RJD1974]

Hilarious that Seattle/OKC drafted and had all three of Durant, Harden and Westbrook on the team for years and all three guys are considered some of the biggest, major league prima donna, dirt bags(using dirt because the other d word gets profanitied out)In the league today for various reasons. No wonder they couldn't keep that trio together.

I was wondering what'd caused the Green Words of Wrist-Slapping to appear.

[moiso]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships. 

[greg683x]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships.

I absolutely think that’s the case.

[nickagneta]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships.

I absolutely think that’s the case.

I don't know if you guys are basing this on his comments post game regarding his thoughts about the Minnesota trash talking, but I think Westbrook was right in saying "what have they ever done?"

Russ may never have won a ring, but he was an MVP. He has helped to get his teams to the Finals and Conference Finals before. He did do something that, before him, only one other player in history had done. He is a multi-time scoring leader and assist leader in the league.

No one on Minnesota has accomplished anything even remotely close to that.

Yes, maybe Westbrook sees stats as more important to his legacy than title wins, but in putting down the Minny players by saying "what the heck have any of them ever done?", he is spot on there.

[moiso]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships.

I absolutely think that’s the case.

I don't know if you guys are basing this on his comments post game regarding his thoughts about the Minnesota trash talking, but I think Westbrook was right in saying "what have they ever done?"

Russ may never have won a ring, but he was an MVP. He has helped to get his teams to the Finals and Conference Finals before. He did do something that, before him, only one other player in history had done. He is a multi-time scoring leader and assist leader in the league.

No one on Minnesota has accomplished anything even remotely close to that.

Yes, maybe Westbrook sees stats as more important to his legacy than title wins, but in putting down the Minny players by saying "what the heck have any of them ever done?", he is spot on there.

I liked Beverly's response to this.  "Playoffs every year.  2 western finals with two different teams.  Individual stats or team stats?  I thought it was a team sport??" 

[greg683x]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships.

I absolutely think that’s the case.

I don't know if you guys are basing this on his comments post game regarding his thoughts about the Minnesota trash talking, but I think Westbrook was right in saying "what have they ever done?"

Russ may never have won a ring, but he was an MVP. He has helped to get his teams to the Finals and Conference Finals before. He did do something that, before him, only one other player in history had done. He is a multi-time scoring leader and assist leader in the league.

No one on Minnesota has accomplished anything even remotely close to that.

Yes, maybe Westbrook sees stats as more important to his legacy than title wins, but in putting down the Minny players by saying "what the heck have any of them ever done?", he is spot on there.

No that wasn’t based on his post game comments, but his comments are a bit of a window into what he values more than anything. 

Westbrooks talent is undeniable and nobody is calling him a loser. My venom towards him is more based on the type of person he appears to be, which like you said is a dirt bag. And despite all those accolades no one seems to want to keep him around.

Certainly The TWolves are in no position to talk, I’ve just never seen such a public display of disrespect on the court from players before, especially in this era  of ball where everyone is so buddy buddy. 

It couldn’t have happened to a better person

[moiso]

He definitely deserves the players making fun of him, even though I felt a little sorry for him.  I still don't think Westbrook really gets it.  He's on his own planet just as much as Kyrie is on his own planet.  Westbrook is supposedly a bright guy but he seems clueless to me.  I think in his head his triple double seasons are better than championships.

I absolutely think that’s the case.

I don't know if you guys are basing this on his comments post game regarding his thoughts about the Minnesota trash talking, but I think Westbrook was right in saying "what have they ever done?"

Russ may never have won a ring, but he was an MVP. He has helped to get his teams to the Finals and Conference Finals before. He did do something that, before him, only one other player in history had done. He is a multi-time scoring leader and assist leader in the league.

No one on Minnesota has accomplished anything even remotely close to that.

Yes, maybe Westbrook sees stats as more important to his legacy than title wins, but in putting down the Minny players by saying "what the heck have any of them ever done?", he is spot on there.

No that wasn’t based on his post game comments, but his comments are a bit of a window into what he values more than anything. 

Westbrooks talent is undeniable and nobody is calling him a loser. My venom towards him is more based on the type of person he appears to be, which like you said is a dirt bag. And despite all those accolades no one seems to want to keep him around.

Certainly The TWolves are in no position to talk, I’ve just never seen such a public display of disrespect on the court from players before, especially in this era  of ball where everyone is so buddy buddy. 

It couldn’t have happened to a better person

Yeah I don't really have a problem with those comments, but it seems like it's always something.  His perception is generally a little different from reality.  He says a lot of stupid things in the press conferences that will just bring more heat on him.  The complaining about "Westbrick", complaining about Bazely scoring a legit basket while Westbrook is a serial stat padder, saying that he had no expectations when he joined the Lakers; just a lot of stuff that seems a little off.  And I haven't watched it, but he paid a famous filmmaker to make a documentary of himself and made a big deal of it as the season was starting.  I'm guessing it makes him look mighty impressive.

[gouki88]

I feel very vindicated about my anti-Westbrook tirades over the last couple of seasons. He is so detrimental to winning, it's quite unbelievable. The least self-aware player I have ever seen

[dannyboy35]

  I dint want Westbrook at all but I can’t hate on the guy. It hurt me to see him wear the lakers jersey even when he’s a local guy . He plays extremely hard. For all his flaws there’s just guys way ahead of him that I DO take pleasure in seeing fail. Kyrie #1. I don’t care about “ broken promises”. I can’t stand throwing teammates under the bus INTO a MICROPHONE. That’s insane behavior. A lot of weirdos ahead of Russ for me.