Russell Westbrook has never won an NBA championship, which remains the ultimate on-the-court goal for him and the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
However, 14 years into a Hall of Fame-caliber and record-setting NBA career — on top of immeasurable off-the-court work — Westbrook doesn't feel like he has anything left to prove, to anybody.
Westbrook, a 32-year old nine-time All-Star and the league's all-time triple-double leader, was acquired by the Lakers from the Washington Wizards in what ended up as a five-team blockbuster (the deal was set in motion on draft night and made official on Friday.) On Tuesday, he was formally introduced by the Lakers at a press conference at Staples Center, alongside Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach Frank Vogel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMmgdiEMWp4
When the 2017 MVP was asked by Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times whether he feels like he still has things to prove during his career, Westbrook provided an emphatic response that stretched far beyond the basketball court.
“No. I don’t,” Westbrook said. “I’ve been blessed and thankful to be able to be in this league so long and lucky to be able to play and be healthy. When I got drafted in the NBA, that was me proving people wrong. When I was able to go to college … go to UCLA from inner city, that was me proving people wrong. Just making it out the hood was proving people wrong. I don’t need to do that anymore. I’ve been able to bless the people around me, my family. Been able to impact people all across the world with this platform that’s been given to me. I’ll continue to do that. Obviously, I want to win a championship, but the ultimate goal is to make sure we use what we have to impact those around you.”
You can read a thread of Westbrook's and the Lakers' press conference here.
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