Since Ive been in the league he texts me every game at halftime.. The chatter has picked up in recent weeks, with the Brooklyn Nets imploding and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving expressing their preferences to play elsewhere. Is Ja already the most athletic PG of all time? Its the nature of the beast of our business. The word destroy has been commonly used to describe what he does to coaches or staff who defend him in practices. And until youre not on our roster, youre ours, and were going to try to get better with the group that we have. Local blackouts may apply. Westbrook and Durant spent eight seasons together, but their supposedly unbreakable bond was severed when Durant announced he was joining the Warriors on July 4. Examining which players have excelled at catch-and-shoot scoring thus far in the 2022-23 season. Following prompt surgery to repair his cheekbone, Westbrook tried to convince the team to let him play the next day. And again at some obscene hour the following day. His Westbrook vs. Everybody attitude has led to some memorable and entertaining beefs around the association. Perhaps it means something. It was pushed in. You can never have too many shooters, first and foremost, Ham said. 4 overall. Two days later, he recorded 33 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists in a 11396 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, joining Robertson, Magic Johnson, and Jerry Lucas as the only players in NBA history with two triple-doubles in the first three games of a season. He begins pregame warmups exactly three hours before tip-off. He learned to play basketball from his dad, a playground star who devised . Players, former players, coaches, agents and executives most notably Jerry Stackhouse, James Jones, Gary Payton II and Baron Davis made their way over to dap up James and join the scene, which featured more than a dozen photographers documenting him from every possible angle. By clicking "Submit", you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Pack, a Thunder assistant coach from 2013-15 who is now with the Wizards, was on the bench when Westbrook . AD has a newborn on the way. But Westbrook wasnt having it. Breaking down the early leaders for the new Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year Award. It just helped me because its like OK, this is what you gotta do to be this good, Payne said. People rack their brains trying to think of times when he may have slept through an alarm or hit bumper-to-bumper traffic, but they cant recall one. The Lakers already have two of the best players in the league in James and Davis. Two in a row. We have a guy who pushes us every night. Westbrook and his wife Nina Westbrook have three children: one son and twin daughters. In some ways, Westbrook is ambivalent, claiming his team has his only attention. Thats just the bottom line of it., Ham added: I dont know a player thats come through this league in my 26 years that hasnt had their name part of a trade rumor a time or two. Subscribe to get notified about our services. How high is the ceiling for healthy Bucks? Durant had scored 27 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7, including seven straight to cut the Golden State Warriors' lead to four with 1:40 left. Naturally, turning to an expert for the official scouting report on these three ex-Lakersin the form of LA TimesLakers beat reporter Brad Turner is a good idea. Athlete Speakers is a sports speakers bureau and marketing agency. He battled an ankle sprain during the 2012-13 season so severe that people around the team still remember it today. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The energy spiked when Westbrook started calling him a bad motherfucker repeatedly. Your Shopping Bag is Empty Start Shopping. In 2017, the year he won the league MVP award, Westbrook became one of two players in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season, along with Oscar Robertson in 1962. The 13,500-square-foot home has eight bedrooms and 13 bathrooms and views of the Pacific Ocean. Donovan tried to simmer him down. Its almost like if you do your jaws like, you suck your jaws in and the side of your face goes in. The force behind Memphis' league-leading defense climbs to the top of the latest ranking. If you didnt want them to go hard, you had to turn the clock off and shut the game down, said a staffer who regularly attended them. Meet and greet tickets are only meet and greets if they are specified in the ticket group, section, row or notes. If you can't enable JavaScript, try visiting the mobile-optimized website. He treats them as if theyre players. All-Star Guard For The Philadelphia 76ers. Whenever I need thoughts from all three of them, theyre right there with me.. Video coordinators have laughed about how hard Westbrook goes at them when they have to defend him in drills. He used to bet on his success rate with assistant coaches. A former Thunder staffer who has received many of those hits and would undoubtedly take every one of them once again says Westbrooks drive, even during mundane practice settings, is what makes him great.. As he walked off, he turned to Donovan and declared, Im playing!, Players, coaches and staffers up and down the Wizards have praised the way Westbrook has changed their culture, adding an intensity that wasnt present before the organization traded for him six months ago. Westbrook posted him up every, single time. Keep track of LeBron's chase of the all-time scoring record. During Paynes first NBA season, Westbrook used to make the youngster go to the gas station and buy him apple Snapple before every road trip. #whynot. I had to get that Snapple every time, Payne laughed. Foundation, which promotes community-based education and family service programs while pushing youngsters to be self-confident. Ham quickly added a caveat that the Lakers still have a long way to go with building their roster and can look to improve their roster by other means. Westbrooks college teammates knew the response theyd receive if they called him by his last name. Although Westbrook was clearly bothered by the injury, he continued playing and finished the game with 29 points. Going to the post. So, he got there even earlier the following morning. During his 2008 pre-draft workout with the Seattle SuperSonics, who moved to OKC to become the Thunder that summer, he vigorously flew through warmups to the point that Scott Brooks, an assistant coach on that team, worried Westbrook wouldnt be able to make it to the end of the day. Abdul-Hamid has a theory. But with all eyes in the arena and on TV and social media on James and Westbrook, it was interesting, if not telling, that they never publicly interacted. I was like, I couldnt believe it.. Meet and greet tickets are only meet and greets if they are specified in the ticket group, section, row or notes. Every time, Payne said. You agree that your personal information will be used to send you messages about NBA related products and services, and share your personal information with NBA partners and affiliates so that they can also contact you about products and services that might be of interest to you. We then confirm the sports celebrity fee based on the details of the request. So, Westbrook took it a step further. He lifts me up every single day. It doesnt go well. Want every headline right at your fingertips? He wants the idea that there's a "beef" with Westbrook to evaporate. Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Chris Haynes details Anthony Davis' progress as he ramps up for a return from injury. His prior stops also include ESPN Los Angeles, FOX Sports and Grantland. Use your free NBA ID to send your favorite players to the 2023 All-Star Game in Utah. Which is such an adorable brotherly moment between the brothers. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021. I gotta get here even earlier? Payne said. Those games would get as intense as Game 7s in a playoff series. You have Successfully Signed-Up. They will continue to face the realities of love and marriage. The Lakers will be Westbrook's fourth team in as many . But were just looking for the best possible basketball players that we can put a Laker jersey on.. The new season will feature a reunion of the three couples. If you missed it: On Russell Westbrook's season of history: espn.com. Sign up to receive NBA emails! , He demonstrated persistence and a mindset that I think has been in the water in Oklahoma and that people here really come to appreciate. When they left on May 30, they thought they'd be coming back better and stronger than ever, the likely favorite to win it all. Westbrook got more aggressive and then started getting vocal. Thats not the end of the story, as Pack tells it. NBA Power Rankings: Is Luka enough for Mavericks to get on a real run? Hed noticed a rookie beating him to practice for two consecutive days, and no way was that going to continue. The former All-Star big man reflects on his journey back to health, his days with the Knicks and Mavericks and more. Robert Pack could never forget what Russell Westbrooks crushed face looked like. He's easy going, easy to get along with and adaptable to any group of people. Its a back-to-back. Thank you! https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/russell-westbrook-net-worth. Westbrook has achieved the remarkable feat of averaging a triple-double during three different seasons. Greater salary cap flexibility, better defenders inthe rotation, and an eye towards the future were the immediate takeaways. Westbrook had hurt his knee the night before and had told Donovan he would go through warmups before the Rockets game to see if he could give it a go. The Thunder return to Oracle six months later in a different world. I think it probably fueled both those guys in a very healthy way, Donovan said. If a teammate ever committed the sin, Westbrook would stay at the facility later, just to mess with him. The Houston Rockets got a combined 51 points from . Westbrook, of course, has been in trade rumors dating back to last season. And I think thats something Ive definitely channeled this year, just making sure that Im ready to compete on a nightly basis.. The new sideline general has frequently advocated for Westbrook this offseason, harping on the point guards vital role with the team this upcoming season. He's upped his 3-point shooting numbers in both those seasons up to 36%, a trend Sheppard will hope continues. Payne guesses Westbrook arrived around 6 a.m., but he never found out for sure. There's so much attention on Westbrook and Durant, it's been overlooked this will be an uncomfortable night for Nick Collison, for Steven Adams, for Anthony Morrow, for Enes Kanter and for Andre Roberson. Perhaps it means everything. Live Now: Wembanyama leads Mets 92 in France, Clutch Player Ladder: Top 5 of our debut list, Defensive Player Ladder: Claxton rising the ranks, Next: Kia Rookie Ladder: Rare defensive skills, Next: Live Now: Wembanyama leads Mets 92 in France, Next: Clutch Player Ladder: Top 5 of our debut list, Next: Defensive Player Ladder: Claxton rising the ranks. The meeting comes on the heels of an influx of rumors surrounding Westbrooks murky future with the Lakers. This is a city that probably, in a lot of peoples minds, wasnt supposed to have an NBA team. His work ethic to improve on thedefensive side of the ball last year could be just what Unseld Jr. and company need. The solution was: OK, you both come in around 7:30 a.m.; you both win. Upon his graduation from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2015, he was personally handed his diploma by his brother Russell. Mr. In turn, the couple of . The only people he daps up are the ones wearing the same jersey as him. I just need you locked in and getting here on time, Payne remembers him saying. During 2016-2017, After the whole dilemma with Kevin Durant, where he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. He treats teammates the same way. Westbrook's name has been thrown into the trade mix in recent weeks as the Nets could be looking to part ways with their disgruntled point guard, Kyrie Irving. Just take the game.. The deal would not only rid Los. Paul George has said Westbrook pushed and challenged him to be better and then credited him for having the best season of his career in Oklahoma City. Im so proud of him, not just for that but for the man he is today. He would fight through every screen, without fail. Yes Russell Brand offers VIP packages that are available to see them on tour and cost around $1236. He went on to average a triple-double the following two seasons as well as lead the league in assists and become the first player to lead the league in points and assists in multiple seasons. Greater salary cap flexibility, better defenders in the rotation, and an eye towards the future were the immediate takeaways. I mean, you couldnt believe the size of his ankle.. Nike, PepsiCo, Samsung electronics, True Religion Apparel, and Six Star Pro Nutrition, Henessy are the few brands Russell has endorsement deals with and he earns a whopping $35 million from all his endorsements. Im like, Golly! All eyes in the arena were on him. During a hard-fought game in Portland, the point guard took an inadvertent knee to the cheek from teammate Andre Roberson. All this treatment, Westbrook griped. I just wanna get through this 45-minute workout in one piece.. After all, it must be exhausting for Westbrook to maintain constant ferocity without any triggers. When Payne was a rookie, Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams told him he should try to beat Westbrook to practice. But not much has changed. Its a seek-and-destroy mentality, Brooks said. It's always a plus when one of the better assets you're getting in return happens to be best buds with the franchise cornerstone. He has a younger brother named Raynard. Especially when considering their bromance at summer league less than 12 months ago. He is also the Chief Content Officer at Russell Westbrook Enterprise. "Who said that?" Hes built different. The Lakers had a minus-3.5 net rating in the trio's 393 minutes together, a mark worse than the . A few possessions later, Hachimura viciously dunked. These DO NOT include meet and greets. 247Sports . Clients enjoy quick, simple, accurate ordering and delivery. The coach knew his star must be in anguish; normally, Westbrook, now 32, proceeds as if his body is devoid of aches. Just compete, compete, compete, compete. Westbrook credits his parents Shannon and Russell Jr. for teaching him the value of daily consistency and also conversations he had with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, who handled their playing days similarly. He plays so hard.. Putting up unreal numbers he went into the All-Star Break with 67 Career Triple-double. Westbrook is one of the first players in NBA history to record at least 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists four times in a single season. He is the first player in NBA history to have at least 100 points, 30 rebounds and 30 assists through his team's first three games of a season. Payne was showing up for 11 a.m. practices at 8:30. Caldwell-Pope's 3-and-D skillset would slot in nicely with Beal, and the point of his ability to take some of the tougher two guard matchups on the defensive end is an important one for a Wizards team that has ranked dead last and second-to-last, respectively, in opponentpoints per game the last two seasons. Please logout and login again. He struggled at times with that shot last season, but when the Lakers won the NBA championship he was incredible shooting the three. You can buy Russell Peters front row tickets to their concert for about $998. Westbrooks name has been thrown into the trade mix in recent weeks as the Nets could be looking to part ways with their disgruntled point guard, Kyrie Irving. Ham said that the team isnt looking for a particular position but clarified that 3-point shooting is a priority. Hell trash talk them. Corporate Appearances Speaking Engagements Meet & Greets Endorsements Virtual Events. He didn't watch Durant's first game with the Warriors, instead playing poker with friends and finding out about the score only when his wife told him the next morning. Shortly after Westbrook left, Ham spoke with a small group of media members in the bowels of the arena, addressing the impact of the rampant trade speculation surrounding the roster. His signifier is not round numbers. Congratulations to Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, Mark Richt and the entire 2023 College Football Hall of Fame class. LAS VEGAS Since joining the Lakers in the summer of 2018, LeBron James arrival at the Thomas & Mack Center at Las Vegas Summer League has been one of the biggest spectacles of the weekend. Russell Westbrook's Wife: Nina Earl. Durant and Westbrook used to compete about who could arrive at practice first, which created a blue-collar culture that percolated throughout the organization. Just about every tale of a Westbrook practice has this sort of tone. He had surgery in April and was declared out for the rest of the playoffs. It sets a strange scenario on Thursday, one where there's genuine unknown of what may happen. Victor Oladipo has discussed how his sole season playing alongside Westbrook inspired a new work ethic. -- but it's going to be worth watching Westbrook's teammates. As role players will attest, its not so easy to stroll in for an 11 a.m. practice at 10:59 when your two stars are getting there three hours before for their own pre-practice practice. In 2017 he signed the biggest contract in the NBA. But what about the actual players themselves? As of 2022, Russell Westbrook's net worth, as estimated by his on- and off-court earnings, is $79.2 million. But Brooks, who later became the Thunders head coach and now holds the same role in Washington, wanted to test him. Yes, he signed with the Jordan brand in 2012. Four years earlier, hed snapped a consecutive-games streak that spanned for a decade; he didnt miss one game during high school, college or his first five years in the pros. It works like this: the Lakers waive Westbrook, and his 2022-23 salary is divided three ways and applied to the Lakers' salary cap in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Payne tried, though he didnt tell Westbrook. You can buy Russell Brand front row tickets to their concert for about $891. Im like, man, this is a different kind of guy. Westbrook was insistent. The cold James-Westbrook dynamic at Fridays game is a consequence of the awkward situation the Lakers find themselves as they wait for Westbrooks future to be resolved. He sprints under the opposing basket, stares into the crowd, pumps his arms and gets ready to play. While with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook was named NBA MVP in 2017. 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