There's no doubt that Russell Westbrook of the Houston Rockets will go down in history as one of the greatest pint guards to have ever played the sport. However, in the mind of the 31-year-old, he earnestly hopes that the legacy he leaves behind goes way beyond the confines of the basketball court.
According to Westbrook, what he values most is how he is able to share the blessings he has received:
“What does your legacy mean? Is it just about basketball? I don’t think mine is about basketball. I believe mine is about giving back.”@russwest44 on how he plans to impact social change off the court. pic.twitter.com/apk7VPjYdg
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) August 29, 2020
From an individual standpoint, Westbrook will likely be most remembered for that historic MVP-winning season during the 2016-17 campaign, where he averaged a 32-11-10 triple-double. However, the Long Beach, California native made it abundantly clear that what he holds more highly is how he is able to impact the lives of as many people as he can.
Westbrook may be a very outspoken individual, but he makes sure to back up his talk with his actions — both on the court and off of it. Westbrook founded the Why Not? Foundation in 2012, which according to its website aims “to inspire the lives of children, empower them to ask ‘Why Not?' and teach them to never give up.”
Westbrook has also been active in supporting the Black Lives movement, opting to take to the streets to join in the peaceful protests. He also decided to produce a docu-series about the 1921 Tulsa massacre, which is widely considered as one of the most violent acts against the Black community.
As for his legacy on his court, Westrbook hopes to build on this on Saturday when he makes his playoffs debut for the Rockets. Houston is slated to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 5 of their first-round matchup with the series currently tied at 2-2.
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