Ever since he joined the LA Lakers in 2021, Russell Westbrook has been criticized relentlessly by the media. Against him there is negative attention ranging from blaming him for the team’s playoff failures to demoting him off the bench for the first time in his career.
By giving up his starting position with the Clippers and thus trying to create better team chemistry, he still got kicked out of it. The Jazz’s decision to waive him only compounded their disrespect for Westbrook, leading to a breaking point.
An iconic basketball figure named Oscar Robertson stands up against this. One of his avowed supporters, Robertson, was angry with the NBA’s treatment of former MVP player Westbrook. Instead of focusing on Westbrook’s pay cut and willingness to play a supporting role with the Clippers, discussions were more concerned with his perceived decline.
Oscar Robertson Slams NBA
This was evident during an interview with Joey Linn of Clippers Beat Writer wherein Robertson gave vent to frustrations. In that regard, as well as other instances where there are struggles within teams, they have blamed Russell unnecessarily according to this year’s All-Star Game Most Valuable Player (MVP), who won this title three times consecutively, criticizes NBA for that unfairness.
He also added that whether its offenses or defenses had been involved, every game played by Russell ended positively until today when others see doom instead of victory. “I don’t know why they keep wanting to blame things on him.
So when he plays, it ignites them; you can see the difference in how they play and react all over the court”. , said Robertson. “Then all of a sudden, they didn’t like him anymore and didn’t want him anymore”.
Westbrook will silence his critics hereafter. With the Denver Nuggets losing key players such as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson, their backcourt became very thin. Looking for an old soldier who could fit into their unselfish style of play, NBA champions 2023 signed Westbrook in the summer of 2024.
