Russ the teammate: Westbrook's loyalty summed up in late-night gym session
Russell Westbrook is a lot of things.
He’s a transcendent NBA athlete, a remarkable scorer and a volatile personality whose swings can be apparent on and off the court.
One trait Westbrook doesn’t get enough credit for is being a dedicated teammate. Westbrook showed his loyalty to the team that drafted him, signing a long-term extension in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Thunder in a spot where many small-market superstars bolt for more marketable cities and franchises.
Midnight shooting session with struggling teammate
NewsOK recently reported on how far his loyalty to his teammates goes when he went out of his way to help Terrance Ferguson out of a shooting slump.
The second-year shooting guard called Westbrook up after a loss looking for guidance. Rather than talk things through on the phone, Westbrook met him at the gym. After midnight.
“He could have went out to dinner,” Ferguson told NewsOK. “He could have went home after a bad game, he could have done anything. But it was like, ‘I’m going to meet you at the gym, we’re going to talk, we’re going to get through this together.’ … That means a lot.”
Donovan not surprised
Head coach Billy Donovan told NewsOK that he’d seen Westbrook’s leadership in action in a similar situation where he helped Domantas Sabonis with 8 a.m. pick-and-roll sessions when he was struggling during his rookie year.
While Westbrook can be prickly to outsiders, his appeal to teammates seems infectious. Not only did Westbrook surprise the NBA by staying in Oklahoma City, but his presence helped convince another star to sign long-term when Paul George shocked the league by spurning the Lakers for the Thunder last offseason.
In a league that values the individual more than any other in American sports, Westbrook is a superstar who regularly puts his team above himself.
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