High praise for Westbrook at BIG3 event
As soon as
Russell Westbrook started walking toward his courtside seat at the BIG3 3-on-3 professional league Sunday, the crowd at the BOK Center roared with approval.
“Russ is here,” NBA Hall of Famer and Ghost Ballers coach George Gervin said later in the bowels of the BOK Center. “I heard it.”
Westbrook has been in Oklahoma City the past week for his Russell Westbrook Why Not? Basketball Camp at Heritage Hall. He will bring his camp to Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa on Monday and Tuesday.
But between camps, the NBA’s Most Valuable Player made a stop at the BIG3 on Sunday. Tulsa was the third city on the BIG3’s 10-city tour during its inaugural season.
Before taking his courtside seat, Westbrook was announced, gave a wave to the crowd as the public announcer started an “MVP” chant that filled the arena. Westbrook sat a few seats to the right of BIG3 founder and media mogul Ice Cube.
In the tunnels of the BOK Center, Westbrook visited with Hall of Fame guard
Gary Payton and former NBA
guard Chauncey Billups.
Billups and Killer 3’s teammate Stephen Jackson were warming up for their game when they heard the reception for Westbrook.
“He deserved it,” Jackson said of the ovation. “He stayed down with the city, got the MVP, he deserves all the praise he’s getting right now.
“If they didn’t stand up, I would be like ‘that’s disrespectful.’”
Billups was one of the people standing up applauding Westbrook.
“He’s like a little brother,” Billups said. “To see his ascension the last two years has been beautiful. It couldn’t have happened to a better person. Great dude. He still finds time to come give back to the kids. It’s well-deserved. I’m proud of Russ.”
Big 3 panel wants spot on Thunder bench
Some of the players in the BIG3 aren’t afraid to make it known they could still cut it in the NBA
They made their pitches in jest (we think) Sunday at the pregame media session, with Jackson and Kenyon
Martin saying they could help the Thunder off the bench.
“I can come off the bench and give you a good 15, 20 minutes right now,” Jackson said before throwing some shade at Andre Roberson, who shot just 42.3 percent from the free throw line last season.
“And I guarantee you, I won’t be like Roberson. They won’t be hack-a-Shaqin’ the small forward.”
“I was gonna keep it more professional,” said Martin, who played 15 years in the NBA.
“I’m with you, brother. All I need is a practice jersey. I’ll earn the other one.”