The Oklahoma City Thunder came up short in Game 1 versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Amidst all the action and intensity from this star-studded matchup were the unrelenting boos from Blazers fans.
The Moda Center was certainly not shy about expressing their feelings toward Westbrook throughout the evening. Just one problem: The Thunder superstar doesn't seem to mind getting booed.
“I don’t pay much mind to it,” he said on Monday, per Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report. “If they’re booing me, I must be doing something good. They don’t boo nobody who isn’t good at their jobs.”
There is certainly plenty of truth to Westbrook's comments. Fans no dot usually waste time booing players that have little impact on the outcomes of games. While there are a number of factors that can be attributed to crowd noise, his role as the driving force behind the Thunder is the main one. The fact he's developed an individual rivalry of sorts with Damian Lillard definitely contributes, too.
It is also no secret that he is perhaps the most polarizing player in the NBA today due to his intensity and alleged stat-padding in recent years. The fact that the Blazers fans are letting him have it every time he gets the ball is almost expected given what is currently at stake for both teams.
Despite all the mixed reviews surrounding Westbrook, there is no question that he is one of the NBA's elite point guards. There are very few players that compete as fiercely as he does, and despite his knack for triple-doubles, it is safe to say that winning has always been his top priority. Of course, the mixture of these factors has drawn him the ire of a good sect of NBA fans.
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