The past years before the Denver Nuggets were not that kind to Russell Westbrook. He found the joy of playing again when he joined the Nikola Jokic-led team where he was well-received by fans as a sixth man.
There was huge contrast between his time with Denver and his former teammate. This is why his former teammate Michael Porter Jr. finds it odd that the 2017 MVP was treated differently before.
Westbrook played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 2021 to to mid-season of 2022-2023 and then was traded to the Clippers by February of that year. Among those thrown at him by some media men is that he was a cancer in the locker room. Some thought he was used as a scapegoat by the Lakers organization during their struggles.
MPJ thought it was a huge sacrifice made by Westbrook to accept a bench role.
“I mean, so Russ, like here’s the thing. It would be hard for any player to go from being the MVP of the NBA to then taking on a role where you’re coming off the bench, but you still have, like I said, even me going from being the best player to then having some injuries and having to accept, like, okay, I need to figure out a role. That’s tough,” the new Brooklyn Nets player said on the ‘Justin Laboy Show.’
MPJ and Westbbrook played together for the Nuggets last season. Brodie played 75 games and started in 36 averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 assists per game.
Russell Westbrook was disrespected like crazy
Westbrook made a sacrifice. That’s one thing Porter Jr. wants to highlight. However, he finds it wrong, too, that he was disrespected by the Lakers.
“So for Russ to go from MVP to then be told he’s going to play this type of role and to then, you know, go to these different teams and get disrespected by so many people. When he went to LA [Lakers], he was disrespected like crazy,” he said.
He also mentioned the Clippers and their fans for treating Westbrook the same way.
“When he went to the Clippers, people hated on him like crazy. Meanwhile, he’s been the MVP of the NBA,”
Brodie fans can only expect that he will land with another team that where he will be favorably received. The nine-time All-Star is still without a team although the Sacramento Kings is reportedly interested.
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