Roy Hibbert is a recent example of NBA players, both past and present, using new media to discuss all things basketball. The New York native has been running his own YouTube channel for about a year now.
In one of his uploads, the retired center opened up about his experiences playing against a specific superstar. The video is titled "Russell Westbrook Terrorized Me For YEARS," which makes its content clear.
"Russell Westbrook was the only guard that I legit had nightmares about the night before a game. I literally woke up in cold sweats because I knew I couldn't guard him at all," Hibbert begins .
Funny, yet insightful analysis
The video features a few comedic moments, such as Roy waking up in bed with nightmares about Russ and then mimicking his opponent's signature 'Rock the Baby' celebration.
However, it also includes some in-depth tactical analysis from the American-Jamaican, particularly interesting when he discusses the defensive aspects of playing against Westbrook. This insight is notable because Hibbert was actually one of the best defensive centers in the mid-2010s. The former 7'2" center was a dominant presence in the paint, excelling as a shot-blocker, a solid rebounder, a box-out specialist, and in protecting the rim to prevent easy baskets.
"I considered myself one of the better, or one of the best defenders in the league at that time. In one-on-one or pick-and-roll-iso, I took pride in my defense," he reflected.
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Hibbert's humbling admission
Although Roy was named to the 2014 defensive second team, he struggled to keep up with the OKC Thunder legend. In fact, the now 38-year-old candidly described his defense against Westbrook as "horrendous, unacceptable."
The former 2008 first-round pick acknowledged that he was "never the quickest on his feet," while Russ was the exact opposite—a "freak athlete who could shift into multiple gears." As Roy explained, the NBA superstar "took advantage of it," and that was more than evident on the court.
"He would score on me mainly in two ways: mid-range, which is around the free-throw line extended area, or he is taking me right to the bucket. Sometimes, he'd take it right at me like I wasn't even there—pure embarrassment," explained the Georgetown alumni.
Being dominated like that left the former Indiana Pacers center feeling completely overwhelmed, leading him to make decisions he "normally wouldn't make," such as rotating blindly when it wasn't necessary or failing to sprint back in transition.
Despite being thoroughly outmatched, it's refreshing to see players admit when they're not at their best rather than letting their egos take over. Hibbert, for instance, chose the humble route, giving the 2017 MVP his due credit, also praising his playmaking ability, and wholeheartedly calling Westbrook a "future Hall of Famer."
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