Having Defended Russell Westbrook Against Lakers Criticism, Nina Westbrook Recalled How Things Got ‘Ugly’ Playing One-on-One

Russell Westbrook and his wife, Nina Westbrook, are among the true power couples of the NBA. The two were college sweethearts, both are California natives and met at UCLA. Nina and Russell went to college on an athletic scholarship, some even suggesting that she was one of the fastest forwards of her time on the UCLA women’s basketball team. It was always a dream for the couple to play with the Los Angeles Lakers. But since both of them loved the game and were rather good at it, they often tussled in 1v1s.

Through thick and thin, Nina has stood by her husband through every hurdle and criticism. For example, when Russell first joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021, his performance had dipped due to poor form. Nina stood in support of her husband, who was receiving death threats and harassment from fans daily.

The couple once again appeared together very recently in a talk show hosted by Jennifer Hudson, where they revealed their competitive nature towards each other. Russell even ended up admitting how Nina had beaten her in one-on-one basketball. The couple discussed more about themselves and their competitive drive, giving a deeper insight to the fans into their relationship.

Russell Westbrook’s wife Nina once beat him in one-on-one basketball!

In an episode of the Jennifer Hudson show aired on May 12, 2023, Nina and Russell revealed more about their competitive nature. Furthermore, Nina shockingly exposed how she would defeat Russell in one-on-one basketball. When the host asked Nina if they had played one-on-one basketball, she replied:

“We did play one-on-one, one time. But we were both very competitive. So after I beat him the first time, it got a little ugly just like in the movie and I decided I was going to stay on top. And so, we’ve never played again since then.” 

Even though Nina had humiliated Russell on the court, off it, she is like a pillar. Nina has never stepped away from slamming critics and media personnel for crushing her husband’s morale.

Besides, Nina is also a certified therapist and family counselor. She is a huge advocate for mental health and runs the non-profit organization Why Not? Foundation with her husband.

Nina Westbrook slammed ESPN for calling Russell Westbrook a ‘vampire’

After Rusell Westbrook’s trade to Utah from the Lakers, the media blew this issue out of proportion. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin commented: “As one source told me, ‘You remove a vampire from the locker room.'”

This particular comment infuriated Nina Westbrook, who finally broke her silence after two years of slander from Lakers fans and media. She said, “I have school-aged children who have to listen to their peers repeat the nasty things that you guys say on television about their father. I guess I will prepare myself to explain to my 5-year-old that his dad is not actually a vampire.”

Following this incident, Carmelo Anthony and Donovan Mitchell called out Dave McMenamin on ESPN’s Instagram post. Furthermore, Carmelo also asked Dave to provide the source for his information. Donovan Mitchell too was done hearing such slander on TV and media and urged the channels to stop with their hateful content.