Triple-double legend Oscar Robertson has defended Russell Westbrook’s legacy and doesn’t assume his present remedy by the bigger NBA neighborhood may be very truthful.
In 2021 when he was with the Wizards, Westbrook surpassed Robertson’s profession file for triple-doubles with 182.
Corridor-of-Famer Robertson spoke a couple of non-public dialog he had with Westbrook at OKC earlier than he broke the file.
“I went out to see him in Oklahoma. I used to be glad for the man. I mentioned I needed to inform you this, we had been in a room by ourselves speaking,” mentioned Robertson on All The Smoke podcast. “I mentioned ‘I’m glad for you man, however they’re going to activate you’. I mentioned ‘They’re going to activate you as a result of they’re going to anticipate you to do that each evening. And even in the event you do that and don’t win they’re going accountable you.’”
Robertson additionally spoke on how Westbrook’s popularity as an NBA participant has quickly diminished these previous couple of seasons.
“It’s unlucky for Westbrook that they’re doing a few of these issues to him,” Robertson mentioned. “I feel the man may be very priceless to any workforce he’s with however in some way they wish to blame anyone. Why blame him, the man’s efficient for you. He saved the franchise in Oklahoma going for years.”
Stephen Jackson added, “Russell Westbrook has that motor, he has that keenness. You’ll be able to’t actually educate a man to wish to do the whole lot on the courtroom, it needs to be in you.”
Earlier than the season have even begun, Russ has been the sufferer of public scrutiny, with an NFL commentator calling him out and his wife had to step in and publicly call the ESPN staffer out.
Gilbert Arenas is one other former participant who recently defended Russ and his legacy.
The guard is beginning a brand new NBA chapter with the Nuggets and despite the fact that he isn’t the participant he as soon as was, he can nonetheless contribute positively to a workforce. At the very least Denver are hoping so.