‘Russell Westbrook will earn $43.8 million’: NBA Analyst calls out Rockets star for being past his ‘athletic prime’

Russell Westbrook is set to make well over $40 million a season for the next 3 seasons, most say it’s too high for Westbrook.

In yet another early postseason flameout, Russell Westbrook’s Houston Rockets has been eliminated from the NBA Playoffs in just 5 games in the Western Conference Semis at the hands of the LeBron James led Los Angeles Lakers.

Russell Westbrook, for the first time in his career, averaged less than 20 points per game in the Playoffs, averaging only 19 points while shooting just 43% from the field and an abysmal 58% from the free throw line.

Also read: “Catching COVID, I had to sit back”: Russell Westbrook blames 2 significant issues for ‘no-show’ vs Lakers

These constant early Playoffs exits have NBA analysts wondering whether or not Westbrook’s contract is a fair deal or a highway robbery on Westbrook’s part.

Russell Westbrook is guaranteed to make $123 million.

The 31 year old has a contract that only increases in salary as the years go by, and extends till 2023. Russ will make $38 million in this season and will make a whopping $46.6 million in the last year of his contract.

As pointed out by the Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner, Russell Westbrook is past his athletic prime. It was quite noticeable in the Bubble that he wasn’t dunking nearly as much as he used and was not relying on an acrobatic layups either.

Russell Westbrook is making $43.8 million per the next three seasons, and the Lakers defense barely defends him in the half-court. He’s past his athletic prime, one of the worst shooters in the NBA, and an undeniably poor fit with James Harden. Where do the Rockets go from here?

— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 13, 2020

Should the Houston Rockets look to trade Russell Westbrook?

After just one year with the Rockets, people are already contemplating shipping the 2017 MVP off to another team, while there is still demand out there for a player like Westbrook.

“We’re a piece away.”

James Harden says it’s very frustrating to keep falling short of the Finals or a title. pic.twitter.com/g1P82SCPet

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 13, 2020

James Harden, in his postgame presser said that the Rockets are only one piece away from contending for a Finals berth. He included Russ in this statement so it seems that Harden wants the 2x All Star Game MVP to stay on the team.