Russell Westbrook has never been able to recreate the aura he once carried as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Russ began his NBA journey in 2008 with the OKC and gave them 11 solid years of top-notch play, including his famed 2017 MVP season.
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It wasn’t just that the nine-time All-Star was a younger, more athletic version of himself during the Thunder days. It was also that his vicious ferocity was as noticeable as his game. In his 821 games for Oklahoma, Russ averaged 23 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds. He also recorded 138 triple-doubles in that time, which is a huge chunk of his historic record of 202 triple-doubles.
Theo Pinson and Damien Wilkins remember the Thunder version of Russ very well. “He had a different mentality,” began Wilkins, on the Run Your Race podcast. Pinson instantly agreed, declaring how that version of Westbrook was “different”. But it wasn’t just the mentality that stood out, said the retired NBA stars. It was the fact that… he was a little crazy.
“Russ was psychotic,” claimed Wilkins. “He had a loose screw. I’ve never seen a guy that can come into practice, no stretching, and just be full speed.”
The statement made Pinson wonder what kind of drive Russ must have had during those days, considering he still plays “hard” by conventional standards. “He plays so hard now, I can’t imagine then,” stated Pinson.
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Russ’s standout year in 2017 saw him put up crazy numbers across the board that are better than some full careers — 31.6 PPG, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. Maybe Pinson and Wilkins were right, because you have to be a ‘psycho’ to drop those stats, especially since he is no taller than 6’4″.
Pinson and Wilkins are far from the first bunch of former players to sing praises of Westbrook though. When it comes to intensity, no one’s word means more than Kobe Bryant’s.
Kobe stated that he and Russ were a lot alike
While Westbrook is far from the player he once was, his competitive fire burns hotter than it ever had. One person who recognized that drive was Bryant. The Mamba was once asked about the similarities he sees between himself and Russ during a post-game presser.
“He plays the game with such an energy and such an aggressiveness,” stated Bryant. “I think it needs to be appreciated. He needs to be appreciated. He’s not out there trying to be cute with the basketball. He’s not out there trying to make friends. This guy is playing hard every time down.”
Bryant’s endorsement of Russ is something, considering how off the wall the Mamba was himself. This was a man who once ran through his very close friend, Pau Gasol, during the 2008 Olympics when Team USA played Spain. The question is, can Russ channel his crazy intensity into capturing the one thing that has alluded his career?
