Paul George sets the record straight on Russell Westbrook as a player and teammate, much to the appreciation of OKC Thunder fans.
For those who are still arguing against Russell Westbrook as a player and teammate, Paul George is here to set the record straight. Following the comeback win over Houston on Saturday, Westbrook was in good spirits despite an otherwise tough performance and praised by George for his work this season. PG13 followed him up by addressing Westbrook as a player and teammate.
George standing up for Westbrook debunks a few common misconceptions. One being Westbrook is a bad teammate and the other claiming him to be a stat padder. But in one interview, PG put all the haters to bed.
#PaulGeorge - 45 points. #RussellWestbrook - 9th consecutive triple double. #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/gyqrsrgVQw
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 10, 2019
Your eyes may deceive you
What makes Russ so difficult to judge from the outside looking in is his relentless hustle. Pushing the pace, playing too fast, clumsy turnovers and bad shot selection are part of the Westbrook experience, but it’s also the underlying reason why the Thunder are so good. The Brodie is intense and his energy which led the Thunder to the playoffs in 2017 after Kevin Durant left, helped them squeak into the playoffs last season and win close games today.
As Westbrook said, the best player on the team is George. Everybody recognizes the Brodie isn’t having his best year, but again, the energy he gives which can lead to turnovers or bad shots is the same energy which sparks big comebacks and makes the hustle plays down the stretch of close games.
And for the people who believe Westbrook is a bad teammate, George confirmed that the opposite
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is true. Number Zero only cares about winning. If that means forcing the issue and hearing about it from the media for it, so be it. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and when the Thunder are down by 26 like they were to the Rockets, he’s going to do everything he can to make up the deficit.
At the end of the day, Russ is a flawed but ultra-competitive superstar which is why he’s hated mostly by non-Thunder fans and loved in Oklahoma City.
His energy is contagious and fans can rally behind a player who is giving everything he has night in and night out. It would be understandable to give up when down by 26, but that’s not in Westbrook’s nature.
He only has one speed and doesn’t care what the score is.