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Russell Westbrook has received an onslaught of criticism following (and during) a 4-1 first-round series loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard is well aware it exists, and narrowed it down to being just a part of what comes with fame and success:
“No, I don't, man. When you do so much at a high level, a lot of haters come,” said Westbrook, according to ESPN's Royce Young. “That's how life is, man. That's life, man. When you do so much, people going to try to pull and take away and try to take that away from you. But nobody can take away from me. I've been blessed, and I stay prayerful, stay thankful to be able to do what I'm able to do, and nobody can ever take that away from me, regardless of what it is, how many stories are written, how many stats are put up, how many numbers are put up. Doesn't matter. I take too much pride, time, effort to be able to go out and compete and play hard every night, my body on the line.
“Can't take it away from me. I will never let anybody take it away. How many years you'll ask me, every year I'll tell you the same answers because I truly believe it, and it doesn't change the fact of anything.”
Westbrook has been criticized because of his lack of efficiency, his poor judgment with shot selection and his redundancy to resort to “hero ball” in the last few minutes of clutch moments.
None of those characteristics have bode well for him or for the Thunder, who are now winless in playoff series since Kevin Durant departed for Golden State.
The arrival of Paul George has meant little difference, as much as Thunder faithful tried to pin last year's playoff loss to a post-grandeur Carmelo Anthony.
It seems Westbrook is still plenty convinced that he is in the right, regardless of how many have taken note to his all-around deficiencies.
