Damian Lillard just spilled some major tea about fellow NBA superstar, Russell Westbrook. In a recent appearance on the 'Club 520' podcast, the Bucks point guard revealed his experience facing the former MVP from his days on the Thunder.
“In my first five to six years, he was the bully… I remember when I was a rookie and in my second year, he used to try to give me 50 every time. He would be shooting on me so much, that [Kevin Durant] would be getting mad, like, ‘Pass the ball!’”
Lillard's respect and admiration for Westbrook is well-known by the fans today but that wasn't always the case. There was a point years ago when the two were believed to be in a beef. Lillard himself called Westbrook his "arch nemesis" and they often went to blows when they ran into each other during the season. Over the years, the rivalry diminished but Westbrook's reputation as a cold-blooded competitor never wavered.
Without consideration for the public's approval, Westbrook has always played with an angry, relentless attitude on the court. Since being drafted 4th overall in 2008, Russ has been on a mission to dominate his opponents and attack them with everything that he has. That's true for him today, and that was also true years ago when he was teammates with Kevin Durant on the Thunder.
Together, Westbrook and Durant took the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 and led them through their most successful stretch in franchise history. Even after Durant left the team in 2016, Westbrook stayed to take up the mantle as leader. In 11 years with the franchise, Westbrook solidified his legacy with averages of 23.0 points, 8.4 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game on 43% shooting. He's a 9x All-Star, 2x scoring champion, and 9x All-NBA player.
Even after all he's done for the Thunder , Westbrook still gets blamed for his part in running Durant out of town. After losing against the Warriors in 2016, despite taking a 3-1 series lead, Durant gave up on the Thunder to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
Durant never mentioned Westbrook as the reason for his departure, but it's been said that he wasn't on the best of terms with his Thunder teammate. Besides Westbrook's aggressive demeanor, he's an extremely ball-dominant point guard who is best with the ball in his hands.
During his run with Durant, it was often a subject of debate about how often he'd be shooting the ball compared to his MVP-level co-star, who was objectively the best player on the team. Russ routinely shot the Thunder out of games and his stubbornness often cost them in the most crucial moments.
Going from that situation to joining Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and the Warriors must have been a shocking contrast for Durant. For Westbrook, he only got a few years alone on the Thunder before he switched teams and his career took a turn for the worst.
Today, while Russ is still considered one of the defining point guards of the modern NBA, people are split on how he stacks up compared to other legendary point guards like Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard. His Kobe-esque attitude helped Westbrook bring out the best in his game but it also pushed some people away who could have helped him maximize his career.
Related: Oscar Robertson Defends Russell Westbrook From "Unfair Treatment" In The NBA
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