Russell Westbrook on Melo, Paul George, and Caligula

Good Media Day presser for Russell to start the 2017 season. Obviously lots to talk about with the additions of Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Patrick Patterson, and Raymond Felton. As I’ve watched Russell over the years, it’s taken him awhile to just kind of relax with our local media in Oklahoma City. Let’s be clear, the OKC media is for the most part a very laid back deal compared to larger markets across the league so it’s taken them awhile to go from a college based market to one that has now covered an NBA team for a decade. The two guys I read are Berry Tramel from newsok and Royce Young from espn. I like Erik Horne from newsok as well. He was always kind to me on the newsok messageboard and I’ve appreciated the fact he never banned my ass.

My advice to Russell would be to continue to open up with the local media like he does with the national writers. Granted, Tramel can be a nerdish pain in the ass at times, but just work through that and embrace the relationship with the local media. Reveal more of yourself as a person, a father, and the truly outstanding young man you are.

At the beginning, there were parts of Russell I didn’t care for. I didn’t like the way he left the bench after a heated exchange with coach Mo Cheeks during a playoff game. But what I’ve learned about Russell over the years is that’s just the high level competitor in him. He wants to win badly and I admire that. I love the way he talks about his wife, his parents, and his little brother, Ray Jr. I love the fact he embraced every moment of his college experience at UCLA and to this day is an avid UCLA supporter. One of the best interviews I’ve ever heard regarding Russell was one his college coach Ben Howland did on the Sports Animal. If you can find it on their archives I’d highly suggest you listen to it if you’re a Westbrook fan or just a Thunder fan in general.

For me, it’s been a journey watching Russell, Durant, Harden, Collison, Ibaka, and others play in the smallest market in the NBA. I pinch myself at times. All of this because Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. How amazing is that?

In the end, what I love most about Russell is his work ethic and his love of family. Call me old school, but I’m a work ethic guy to the core. I love the fact Russell has had to work his ass off from his high school days to the present to get where he’s at. I love the fact that he never gave up. He didn’t get down when his high school coach had to make a few extra calls for him to get an invite to that elite camp in Atlanta. I love the fact when Howlett told him he’d have to wait until Jordan Farmar declared to go pro before he’d have a scholarship at UCLA… despite the fact he had five other offers from DI schools… Russell waited. I love the fact that every local and national writer said Russell couldn’t play the point guard position at the NBA level…and yet now stands Russell as the best point guard in the NBA. Keep in mind, I got to watch Chris Paul’s first two years as a pro right here in OKC during the Katrina relocation, and while Chris Paul is a very good basketball player—he isn’t Russell Westbrook. Don’t go there with me.

I also love the way Russell talks about his parents. Again, it’s the old school in me. It’s so refreshing to hear a millennial talk in the glowing terms the way Russell talks about his relationships with his mother and father. It truly puts a lump in my throat because my son is Russell’s age and my wife and I did exactly what the Westbrooks did with their son. We dedicated our lives to him. I totally respect the process…the journey of life. Our son talked about us at his wedding in Florida two years ago the way Russell talks about his mom and dad. I would have to say it was one of the best moments of my life. It made every tough day or normal life setback worth it. I cried at my son’s wedding and I’m still crying because like Russell he married a truly amazing young woman whom I’ve come to love as the daughter I never had. So… there will always be these parts of Russell I adore even if he leaves Oklahoma City.

Russell Westbrook—2017 Media Day