Thunderous Thoughts: Why Russell Westbrook is delaying his extension
Welcome to Thunderous Thoughts, a weekly look at the OKC Thunder with the main story ranging from Russell Westbrook to not Russell Westbrook. This week, a lot of Russell Westbrook.
Sam Presti said there isn’t a negotiation with Russell Westbrook on his contract extension. The deal has been offered, they’re just waiting on Westbrook to sign it.
So, why hasn’t he signed it?
Here are my theories. If you combine them all, one of them might be true.
He’s waiting until August 4
Last year, Westbrook extended his deal on August 4 and Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett declared that day “Russell Westbrook Day.” Should Westbrook sign the triple-double extension, it would be cause for another celebration. Since Russell is a generous guy, he doesn’t want to have two days named after him, so he’ll sign the deal on August 4. Thus saving the city a lot of money as they only have to celebrate Russell Westbrook Day one day a year. However, none of this should stop us from celebrating Russell Westbrook every single day.
Related Story: Russell Westbrook wins Athlete of the Year
He’s Being A Dad
I’m not a father, but from what I’ve heard, it’s really hard to be a father. Shout out to every father out there. I’m glad you have your own day, just like Russell Westbrook. It’s possible Westbrook is busy changing diapers and doing this whole parenting thing right now. The contract isn’t going anywhere. And Westbrook can’t afford to miss Noah’s first words or steps because he’s signing a contract that doesn’t need to be signed for another year. They say the most important year of a child’s life is the first year. That’s when they are shaped into who they will become. Shaping Noah is more important than signing a piece of paper. Let the man be a dad.
He Doesn’t Have Time
This goes hand-in-hand with being a dad. Being a dad is a full-time job. And when he’s not taking care of Noah, he’s likely trying to sleep. And when he’s not taking care of Noah or sleeping, he’s off being Russell Westbrook. Being Russell Westbrook is a full-time job. None of us could ever be Russell Westbrook. We can’t sing like him, dress like him, or play basketball like him. We also can’t sign a contract like him. Because when Westbrook signs the contract, it won’t be an in and out thing. Have you seen how this man plays basketball? He’s a showman. When he is ready to sign the contract, he’ll need to be dressed in his best attire. He’ll need his reading glasses to make sure he’s not signing up for any spam emails. He’ll need his special pen because we all know Russell Westbrook has a special pen. Give the man time to put together his contract signing ensemble.
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He Wants To Negotiate
Sam Presti says there are no negotiations going on. That he’s simply waiting for an answer. But what if Westbrook wants to negotiate? Presti shouldn’t be so dismissive of the negotiation process. How does he know that Westbrook is happy with the contract that has been presented to him? Maybe he wants to make some changes. Like he controls the pre-game music or he gets the green skittles or he’s allowed to cut Steven Adams’ hair or he gets to finally meet Taylor Swift. Presti should hear Westbrook out instead of just assuming that the triple-double deal is good enough.
He Forgot His Player’s Tribune Password
No contract is official unless it’s announced on the Player’s Tribune website. Maybe Westbrook forgot his password. Can someone please reset his password? Us Thunder fans would appreciate it.