MY ACCOUNT
Russell Westbrook told a San Antonio Spurs fan not to “disrespect my name” and vowed to do so again as he stood by his wife’s claims of death wishes.
Before Westbrook played in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 117-110 defeat to the Spurs, his wife Nina revealed abuse she had received.
She wrote on Twitter: “When I’m being harassed on a daily basis over basketball games, and I’m having obscenity’s [sic] and death wishes for me and my family sent my way because you’re expressing your ‘truth’, it’s hard for me to get on board with that.”
And after the game, former NBA MVP Westbrook said: “I 100 per cent stand behind my wife and how she’s feeling.
“It’s not just this year. She’s reached a point and my family has reached a point where it’s really weighing on them.
“It’s very unfortunate just for me personally because this is just a game, this is just a game. This is not end all, be all.”
Westbrook has endured a tough season with the Lakers, for whom he is earning more than superstar team-mates LeBron James and Anthony Davis in 2021-22.
But the 33-year-old – who is averaging 18.1 points per game, his lowest mark since 2009-10 – has decided criticism of his displays is going too far when it involves abusing his family name.
“When it comes to basketball, I don’t mind the criticism of missing and making shots,” he continued. “But the moment it becomes where my name is getting shamed, it becomes an issue.”
Westbrook revealed his approach had been altered by hearing of the pride his son, Noah, had in his surname, causing the Lakers star to push back at his “Westbrick” nickname.
“‘Westbrick’ for example, to me, is now shaming,” he said. “It’s shaming my name, my legacy for my kids.
“It’s a name that means [a lot], not just to me, but to my wife, to my mom, my dad, the ones that kind of paved the way for me.
“A lot of times, I let it slide. But now it’s time to put a stop to that and put it on notice. There’s a difference. We need to make sure it’s understood.
“And every time I do hear it now, I will make sure that I address it and make sure I nip that in the bud.”
