Westbrook opens up about criticism
More often than not,
goes for brevity in his media sessions, but Wednesday was different.
Before the Thunder jumped on a plane for New Orleans and the final game before the AllStar break, Westbrook was as candid as he's been all season – maybe ever – about the criticism of his game and how he's approaching this season and his life in general.
In a media session that lasted more than eight minutes, Westbrook said he's been disengaged from the conversation surrounding his game since he started playing basketball when he was eight years old.
“I've been blessed with the talent to not give a (expletive),” Westbrook said.
“Regardless of what happens, it doesn't change the way I live, what I think. I have an unbelievable family. Great friends. An unbelievable life. Unbelievable job. I make a lot of money at my job. I'm extremely blessed, thankful, humble. I haven't been in trouble. I don't cause no problems. I'm perfectly fine. I'm living my best life and I can't complain one bit. He say, she say, what somebody says about shooting, passing, dribbling, every year it's something … they've got to make up something about me, which is fine, it's good. One thing I always know is if they're not talking about you you're (not) doing something right.”
Westbrook is averaging 21.2 points, 11.1 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game. For the third-consecutive season he's averaging a triple-double. Only one player other than Westbrook has averaged a triple-double for one season
let alone three.
Westbrook is also shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 24.4 percent from 3-point range, placing him among the worst shooters in the NBA this season based on volume. For all his shooting struggles this season, Westbrook has been a major factor in the Thunder's 37-19 start.
Whatever the tone of the conversation is around his game, Westbrook says he doesn't use criticism as motivation.
“No. For what?,” Westbrook said. “I stay even keeled. The more even keeled the better. I don't need someone to motivate me to wake up and come to work and do my job. I motivate myself to be able to be the best I can be in the world.
“Regardless of what people say, good or bad – you can write a great (article) .. people can pat me on my back every day and I'm going to give you the same response. As you guys know I don't change for nobody, for nothing. I do the same thing every night and I'll continue to do that.” to sign Oklahoma City Blue guard/forward to a 10-day contract, according to a report form ESPN's
Hopson has averaged 17 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 25 games for the Blue this season. Hopson has played in the NBA with Cleveland and Dallas, last playing for the Mavericks in 2017-18.
Blue forward
is also reportedly signing a 10-day contract with the Thunder, which currently only has 12 guaranteed contracts on its roster not counting two-way players and
Signing players to 10-day contracts can fulfill minimum roster obligations until the Thunder has more clarity about the buyout market and which free agents will come available before March 1 – the deadline for players to become free agents and still be playoff eligible.