Name: Russell Westbrook III
Position: Point Guard
Team: Oklahoma City Thunder
Height: 6 ft. 3 in.
Points per game: 25.4
Field Goal %: 44.9
3-pt. %: 29.8
Strengths: speed, ability to get to the rim, court vision, decision making, ability to score, leadership
Weaknesses: reckless, overly aggressive, average defender
On Nov. 16, the Oklahoma City Thunder opened the 2018-19 basketball season against the Golden State Warriors in Oracle Arena. Instead of dropping buckets and recording another triple-double, Westbrook sat on the sidelines in a black suit jacket and yellow-tinted sunglasses. At one point, he even snuck a snack onto the court, attempting to eat it in secret while cameras recorded him.
Westbrook at his finest, making his way into the spotlight even when he isn’t on the court.
While he sits on the sidelines, his success and dominance at the point guard position still emanates from him, becoming even more evident in his absence.
Kyle Wagner, writer for FiveThirtyEight, an ABC News affiliate, said, “He [Westbrook] has scrambled our sense of what game-altering dominance looks like.”
Paul Pierce, retired professional basketball player, said, “The closest thing to being as competitive as Michael [Jordan] today is probably a guy like Russell Westbrook.”
Danny Chau, writer for The Ringer, said, “To crib one of Sam Presti’s favorite lines, Russ is a force of nature. You’re either with it, or you’re against it.”
The 2017 NBA Most Valuable Player.
Seven-time NBA All-Star.
Two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP.
Current NBA assists leader.
Westbrook exists as one the greatest point guards of this generation. With his ability to control a game and get to the basket, he exudes a dominance on the court unmatched in the league.
Westbrook possesses personal evidence of his greatness as an athlete. The internet roars with it. However, what takes Westbrook from an average point guard to NBA’s MVP? What one trait sets him apart from all the other greats in the league?
My answer…
AUTHENTICITY
Merriam-Webster defines authenticity as “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.”
While Westbrook is always the object of someone’s hate, it cannot be denied he conveys an authentic attitude, which allows his coach and teammates to trust him and rely on him. People may not like him, but they respect him because he never presents pretenses or a false front.
Russell Westbrook is always Russell Westbrook.
Watch interviews with Westbrook. In each one, he never attempts to change his personality to appease the media. While often appearing “rude”, he reacts and speaks with blunt truth, in classic Westbrook fashion.
In one interview, the reporter posed a question to Steven Adams, Westbrook’s teammate, during a post-game interview. The reporter said, “What goes on when Westbrook goes to the bench. Why was Houston so successful? Why do they seem to get an energy when he goes out of the game?”
Westbrook stole the mic from Adams and said, “I don’t want nobody trying to split us up. We’re all one team.”
Did Westbrook sit quietly and let Adams answer? No.
Did Westbrook speak his mind and authentically express himself? Yes.
When 2018 NBA Finals MVP, Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016, Westbrook handled it in authentic Westbrook fashion.
He averaged a triple-double–not one–but two seasons in row.
Westbrook’s authentic personality has been ingrained in him, built through past hardships.
When he was 16 years old, in May 2004, Westbrook’s best friend Khelcey Barrs III died from an enlarged heart during a pickup basketball game. Barrs and Westbrook planned to attend UCLA and play basketball together.
Guess where Westbrook played college basketball? That’s right—UCLA.
He stayed authentic to his best friend.
Next time you see Westbrook rocking some insane fashion trend or being a savage in a post-game interview, praise his authenticity. It’s a rarity these days.
This post is one part of a blog written for Dr. Philip Patterson’s Feature Writing class.
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