Photo: Getty Images North America
Chris Broussard & Rob Parker react to comments from Russell Westbrook regarding the nickname 'Westbrick.' Westbrook has been called the name by major media figures and most recently the fans in the stands during games and he and his wife Nina have had enough.
Russell Westbrook: "I a hundred percent stand behind my wife and how she’s feeling, because it’s not just about this year. Right now, she’s reached a point, and my family has reached a point, to where it’s really weighing on them. And it’s very unfortunate just for me personally because it’s just a game. This is just a game. This is not end-all, be-all. And when it comes to basketball I don’t mind the criticism of missing and making shots. But the moment it becomes where my name is getting shamed, it becomes an issue. I’ve kind of let it go in the past just because it never really bothered me, but it really kind of hit me the other day, honestly. Me and my wife was at teacher-parent conference for my son, and the teacher told me, she’s like, “Noah, he’s so proud of his last name. He writes it everywhere. He writes it on everything. He tells everybody, he walks around and says, “I’m Westbrook. Westbrook, that’s my last name.” And I kind of sat there in shock. And it hit me, like damn, I can no longer allow people – for example, Westbrick, to me, is now shaming. It’s like shaming my name. It’s my legacy for my kids. It’s a name that means more, not just to me, but to my wife, my mom, my dad are he ones that kind of paved the way for me. And that’s just one example. I mean, that kind of hit myself and my wife in a place where it’s not great, man. And I think a lot of times I let it slide, but it’s now time to put a stop to that and put it on notice there is a difference, and 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 that I nip that in the bud."
In the video above, Chris Broussard and Rob Parker disagree with Westbrook's standpoint. Name-calling has been a strong part of the game and the media and the best way athletes can bite back is to play better.
Rob Parker: "I think this is the most overblown nothing that I've ever heard. Now it's about his name and legacy and his kids and all that. This is what you sign up for when you become a public figure whether you like it or not. There are people who can overboard and out of bounds but 'Westbrick,' I'm sorry, is a clever little play on he's not shooting the ball well."
Chris Broussard: "It just comes with the job. If you just wanna hoop, then just go hoop at the YMCA. Nobody will write stories about you. Nobody will talk about you on TV and Radio. You'll just be able to hoop. And guess what, you won't get $40 million a year."