Passion Play: Russell Westbrook (2021) - full transcript
Chronicling the life and career of Russell Westbrook, one of the most dynamic, complex and frequently misunderstood figures in professional sports. Westbrook's take no prisoners attitude has fueled him to 9 All-Star appearances and a league MVP award. Yet despite the scoring titles and the most career triple-doubles in NBA history, he enters the 2021-22 season on his fourth team in three years. Now playing for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, he looks to silence his critics and cement his legacy on his own terms.
[film reel ticking]
They go that yard.
They said, "You know what?
I'm going to come at your head
every opportunity I get."
"The most athletic point guard
any of us has ever seen."
Height of egomania.
When I watch Russell Westbrook,
I go from
the best player who ever lived,
to the next play,
you can't win
a championship with this guy.
He's a pit bull,
and you can't tell
a pit bull to be a chihuahua.
He is the convertible
sports car of the NBA.
He's glamorous.
He's sexy. He's iPod.
He is pure evil.
He is ferocious.
He will take you out.
[static flourish]
[child babbling]
[child babbling]
Come here. You better
not be running in the house.
Come here. You better
not be running in the house.
What's up, man?
Huh?
I run too fast.
You ran too fast?
Yeah. I ran too far.
You going to come watch the
game tonight, watch daddy play?
I might get go in the game.
Okay. Yeah,
we're going to go to the game.
You going to hang with nana and
papa, and I'll see you later?
Okay. All right. High five.
You ready, bro?
You've been crying?
You going to cry.
He ain't gone cry.
[ambient chatter]
[crowds cheering]
I think people...
don't really
understand who I am.
And a lot of that is
because of what
I let people see
and what I don't let them see.
[man] They're all here for you.
[man] They're all here for you.
Oh no. It's just a few people.
That's cool. Ain't that long.
Oh no. It's just a few people.
That's cool. Ain't that long.
They're waiting for the bus.
They're waiting for you.
I think in the sports world,
I am the bad guy.
I think in the sports world,
I am the bad guy.
I am the guy that's easy
target because of
the way I play the game,
with a passion and emotion.
Westbrook sees an opening
and throws it down.
There's that
nuclear athleticism
of Russell Westbrook.
The way I compete,
I think I'm an easy target
to be able to throw shit on.
[crowd cheering]
The lob. Westbrook! Oh, my.
He's his own worst enemy.
He wants it too much.
He plays too hard.
He tries too hard.
He plays too hard.
He tries too hard.
To other people, the normal
person on the street,
I could be an asshole
because of what they hear,
and what they see.
REPORTER: Are you upset
with something?
I just don't like you.
He's volatile.
Westbrook's arguing
with fans, children,
media, coaches, rivals.
Nobody wants to play with Russ.
Early in my career, there were
a lot of made up narratives,
Early in my career, there were
a lot of made up narratives,
a lot of negative things said
about my character, who I was.
a lot of negative things said
about my character, who I was.
And that was fuel for me
to be able to be the best.
And that was fuel for me
to be able to be the best.
I know who I am.
And I understand
what I bring and understand...
what I do.
I'm Russell.
Sometimes my emotions
can take control of me,
but I think when you're
authentic to who you are,
everything else
will fall in place.
["Grinding All My Life"
by Nipsey Hussle]
[whistles blaring]
All my life,
been grindin' all my life
Sacrificed,
hustle paid the price
Want a slice?
Got to roll the dice
That's why, all my life,
I been grindin' all my life
Legendary baller,
like Mike, like Wilt
I say self made,
meanin' I designed myself
All my life,
been grindin' all my life
[static]
[static]
[crowds cheering]
[crowds cheering]
-[whistles blaring]
-ANNOUNCER: The game ends.
The Lakers have won it, again.
[cheering]
[crowds hooting]
And the world champions
are the Lakers.
I come from a place
where I ain't never
even think about the NBA.
I didn't think about
nothing about
making it to the pros.
[police sirens blaring]
[police sirens blaring]
REPORTER: This is Los Angeles,
a city with many claims
on America, including this one.
It is now the gang capital
of the nation.
It is now the gang capital
of the nation.
A lot of people don't
make it where I'm from.
A lot of people don't
live past 20-25 years old,
where I come from.
REPORTER: Police and residents
here link the shooting spree
to an ongoing turf war
between rival drug gangs.
Get over here.
Let me see your hands.
Get your hands on your head.
Showtime!
It's simple.
You grow up in the inner city.
You gang bang. You sell drugs.
Those come hand and foot.
So, I did that.
REPORTER: Why do the youngsters
in these neighborhoods
continue to join up?
They're a symptom of
a lot of root problems like
poverty
and dysfunctional families.
poverty
and dysfunctional families.
Ninety percent
of my friends was in it.
So, you pick up those habits.
And you pick up those habits
and okay, now you learn.
You go to prison
and you will learn.
I was about 25,
stayed three and a half.
And I always said to myself,
"If I'd ever have any kids,
they're going to do better."
Simple as that.
[funky twanging]
Growing up in LA
really shaped me
to who I am today.
really shaped me
to who I am today.
And I think that's
a huge part of
And I think that's
a huge part of
where I get a lot of
my emotions and passion from.
-What's up, bro?
-What's the deal, yo?
What's up, buddy?
-How you doing, man?
-Calling it.
Appreciate it, bro. Yes, sir.
Hey, Russel!
What's up, baby?
All right, bro? Yes, sir.
Aw, oh, thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Appreciate it.
We had some
fun times over here.
-13643, Moly Avenue.
-The Moly Avenue.
Apartment 212.
Yeah, this street
was always quiet.
It really wasn't
a loud type of street.
It really wasn't
a loud type of street.
It was just quiet all the time.
You could catch people
walking to the store
and bringing their kids.
Well, it wasn't
quiet all the time.
Yeah. It wasn't quiet
all the time. Not all the time.
It's Sunday right now. Yeah,
you're right. That's right.
That's a police badge
right there.
Yeah, that'll show you
right there it ain't quiet.
Yeah, that'll show you
right there it ain't quiet.
I'm pretty sure those days
my dad went through that,
he made sure I didn't
have to go through with it.
Wasn't in gangs
or street violence.
And that's something
that I stayed away from.
I was shy when I was younger.
I was a shy kid,
and kinda stayed to myself.
He never was the type to be
around a whole bunch of people.
He kept his circle real small.
He's a kid, man. You know?
He pretty much wanted
to do his own thing.
Never been a follower.
He was always smart.
I was a good student
when I was younger.
I was an honor roll student
and that's
something that I wanted to do
not for myself, but
to set example for my brother.
Yeah, me and my brother,
we're two years apart.
He's my best friend,
my road dog, my ACE,
He's my best friend,
my road dog, my ACE,
whatever you want to call it.
That's my go-to guy.
He stays on my ass,
but that's cool. I like that.
And my parents always
emphasized that to me,
that your
brother's always watching.
And I felt like it was
my duty to be and make sure
that I set the tone.
He told on me a lot too,
so I guess you could
say he was a snitch, too.
Whatever. Just being honest.
You know me. But...
Well, this used
to be it right here.
[clapping] Hike one, hike two.
Hike one, hike two?
-Ain't nobody saying that, man.
-Ain't nobody saying that?
No. You used to run up
and down here, Russ.
Crack people, boy.
You grow up in
a gang environment,
that don't mean
you have to go that way.
You still have your own choice
of what you want to do.
You still have your own choice
of what you want to do.
Football was my first love,
I would say,
just in sports, in general.
I like contact
and wanted to hit.
And I wanted to be in the mix
and go fuck somebody up.
That simple.
He was
the skinniest kid out there.
But when he get in them lines,
he becomes just
this enormous person.
he becomes just
this enormous person.
Once they start playing
football, I'd give them a name.
Once they start playing
football, I'd give them a name.
Hawk was Rey.
The Warrior was Russell.
One, two, three, oh boy.
Watch out, watch out!
Watch out!
-Watch out!
-Got to the tree.
Got to the tree.
Oy, watch out.
That's what I do.
That's what I do.
See that right there?
That's what I do.
It's what I do.
That's what I do.
Was he emotional and passionate
like that as a kid?
-No?
-No. He didn't show
any expression.
For a kid to have four tubs
and everybody in the stadium
is yelling your name, and...
no response.
It was serious,
serious with him.
It was serious,
serious with him.
He didn't laugh.
He didn't giggle.
He didn't clown off.
He didn't brag.
After the game,
he would go sit in the stands
while all the other kids
was running around the field.
He wouldn't celebrate.
When he was younger,
he was more focused on
getting out there, giving
110% and winning that game.
getting out there, giving
110% and winning that game.
Now, if we bombed now,
he would be sad if we lost,
it bothered him if we lost.
Now, that
is always been in him.
He hates losing.
Basketball entered the picture
for me around the same time.
RUSSELL:
I just was doing it for fun,
keep the sports flowing,
keep me active,
keep me out of trouble,
honestly.
He just seemed like
he was a competitive young man.
He just seemed like
he was a competitive young man.
Played hard, like all
the other kids on my team.
But I'm not going to say
and say, "Oh, he was destined.
I knew he was going to the
NBA." No, I did not see that.
If Russell
put up a shot or three,
it would be like,
"Oh no, don't do it."
I wouldn't want him to shoot.
Russell was little.
So, what was instilled in him
was outplay your opponent,
outlast your opponent,
by running hard,
playing defense hard.
Play non-stop,
Play non-stop,
both sides of the court,
no matter what.
His first coach,
Reggie Hamilton, he said,
"Can I yell at him?
It seemed like
that makes him go,
when you yell at him."
Because I'd be on
the side like,
"Russell, let's go, let's go.
Let's go, Warrior. Let's go."
His dad always kept it real
with his son, with Russell.
He never sugar-coated anything.
He was very firm,
very aggressive
in how he talked to him.
I used to keep stats
for both my kids.
And I think that was
motivational for him
to come home and say,
"Daddy, what'd I do?"
to come home and say,
"Daddy, what'd I do?"
My dad always pushed me
to be the best I can be,
My dad always pushed me
to be the best I can be,
not just telling me
to do things,
but talking me through
and giving me an explanation on
why he thought this is
what I should be doing,
on why he thought
this was best for my brother,
on why he thought
this was best for my brother,
or why he thought
this was best for me.
His mom was always there.
Always there.
He was kind of like
a mama's boy.
If I needed something
out of Russ,
all I had to do was go
to Shannon and it was a wrap.
all I had to do was go
to Shannon and it was a wrap.
All of the kids
didn't have that.
All kids don't have
that foundation
to allow them
to pursue their dreams.
to allow them
to pursue their dreams.
You want to be
a father that's there
because you know
what happened to you,
what could have
happened to you.
There was one incident where
one gang went
to fight another gang.
I come down there,
and I'm like,
"What are
you guys fighting for?
Y'all know each other."
They go, "Yeah, Russell,
you right, big homie.
You right. Blah blah blah."
But one of my friends,
that's maybe about
five years younger than me,
but he looked up to me,
I shook his hand, dapped him,
told him I love him.
He said,
"I love you too, big homie."
All you hear is a pop pop.
By the time I let go of
his hand and turned this way,
turn back,
I'm watching you fall.
So, I go up there
the next day and I
look at the house behind me.
I knock on the lady door
and say, "Three bullets
came right here."
Now, that's directly behind me.
And that
is a changing point in my life.
Believe me, that right there.
It's just God, bro.
It brings tears to my eyes
every time I bring it up.
It brings tears to my eyes
every time I bring it up.
And bro, it really do.
It really do because
I could have been gone.
They could have
been without a daddy.
My first year of high school,
I kind of messed up.
My dad, he told me to make sure
I try out for the varsity team.
My dad, he told me to make sure
I try out for the varsity team.
And I didn't listen.
I went and only tried out
for the freshman team.
I'm 14 at the time,
going to a new school
I'm 14 at the time,
going to a new school
and basically said,
"I'm going to just
try to take the easy way out."
And I made the freshman team.
And then when I got home,
he was asking me,
And then when I got home,
he was asking me,
"How the trials go?"
I said, "It went great.
I'm on the freshman team."
He's like, "The freshmen team?
What do you mean
the freshman team?"
I was like, "That's what
I made. The freshman team."
He said, "Did you try out
for varsity?" I was like, "No."
So, he was pissed.
He was upset,
basically in his own words
telling me "That ain't
going to get you through life.
That's not going to cut it."
The things that
I wanted to do, I didn't do.
So, how do you get
your children to do it?
You make them
not afraid of doing it.
You make them
not afraid of doing it.
Fear no one.
My dad told me that
when I was young kid.
Fear no man but God.
This means
you ain't scared of nobody.
You fear no man, but God.
You don't even fear your dad.
So, you take that.
Anything that you do in life,
you take that, so you fearless.
[static]
Big daddy is in the house!
Hold up, Russell Westbrook,
number four,
has entered the building.
When you're looking at
high school basketball players,
the ones that are usually
the most physically gifted
are the ones
who are best at early ages.
The guys who are the biggest,
the strongest, the fastest.
The guys who are the biggest,
the strongest, the fastest.
But where Russell stood apart
was the intangibles of
But where Russell stood apart
was the intangibles of
being smart and also being
just tenacious and competitive.
being smart and also being
just tenacious and competitive.
Russell's a real laid back
and relaxed guy.
But when he steps onto to the
floor and he starts playing,
another attitude or
another mind state comes in,
another attitude or
another mind state comes in,
and that's what
being a competitor is.
and that's what
being a competitor is.
I don't like losing.
I don't like being the second.
Always want to be at the top.
I don't want to be at,
in the middle
or the bottom average.
I just want to always
be the top and
just try to strive
for the best.
He was, like,
extremely physical
with the kids that were
way bigger and way older.
And he went right at them.
And you could just tell,
he was going to be
tenacious and always have
a chip on his shoulder.
REPORTER:
Westbrook's teammates agree
that his alter ego appears
as soon as his feet
hit the hardwood.
We call him
Mighty Russ or whatever,
because when he be
in the game or whatever,
or even when we practice,
when he get the ball,
it's like it's go time.
It's go time.
ANNOUNCER:
Pressure, with the-- Whoa!
He always took chances
in high school
and sometimes,
Coach Morris would
pull them out the game because
he was taking too many chances.
But a lot of
the chances paid off.
ANNOUNCER: And the
bucket on the pass off
to Russell Westbrook,
sophomore.
He had something that
he was driving for.
He had something that
he was driving for.
You say, "Well,
where did that come from?"
That is a part of Khelcey.
Khelcey was that same attitude.
Khelcey,
my childhood friend that
grew up right across
the street from me,
an amazing basketball player.
an amazing basketball player.
One of my best
friends growing up.
Khelcey Barrs was 6'6"
in the ninth grade,
had lots of physical gifts
and attributes.
ANNOUNCER: For Barrs,
it's an offensive rebound.
And it will count.
And he is fouled.
Khelcey Barrs
with the put back.
Khelcey Barrs
with the put back.
He was the whole package.
He could shoot, dunk.
Woohoo!
Beautiful, beautiful.
Khelcey and Russell had
a special relationship.
They were like brothers,
kinda in a way.
ANNOUNCER: Going to
go with Khelcey Barrs
and they will
simply tip it up again.
And we will get underway.
Him and Russell had similar
qualities as far as
competitive nature and just
who they are as a person.
Khelcey had
very ferocious dunks.
He was very loud
and aggressive.
ANNOUNCER: Khelcey Barrs!
[Reggie] They always went at
each other, always competing.
When both of them were
playing at the same time,
they was like Kobe and Shaq.
And we'd sit there
and watch them be dominant.
ANNOUNCER: Being recognized
by every basketball authority
in Southern California as
one of the premier players.
in Southern California as
one of the premier players.
His sophomore year,
he was becoming
a nationally known player.
UCLA, all the big schools
reached out to him.
He was somebody
that immediately,
we all thought,
he was going to the NBA.
He would for sure
go to the NBA.
PRODUCER: He was
that much better than you?
He was that much better
than everybody.
ANNOUNCER: Khelcey Barrs.
[cheering]
[cheering]
After the season was over,
we used to go play
pickup basketball
at LA Southwest College.
May 11th, 2004,
we took Khelcey over.
May 11th, 2004,
we took Khelcey over.
Russell was there also,
a few other teammates.
Russell was there also,
a few other teammates.
You playing against college
guys, junior college guys.
We were winning
every single game.
Khelcey stood out.
That was as good
a day that he'd ever had
and everything was normal.
He was cracking jokes.
and everything was normal.
He was cracking jokes.
And all of a sudden,
he fell back
and his eyes rolled
to the back of his head.
Tried to sit up
and he looked around,
Tried to sit up
and he looked around,
then all of a sudden
just went back to the floor.
then all of a sudden
just went back to the floor.
From there, the paramedics came
and rushed him to the hospital.
From there, the paramedics came
and rushed him to the hospital.
But they pronounced
him dead shortly after.
So...
REPORTER:
He was fast becoming one of
the best basketball players
in the country
but tonight,
Khelcey Barrs is dead
after collapsing on the court.
The sudden death of
the Southern California
high school star has
stunned family and friends.
I just remember sitting
in my living room,
just staring and crying
and sitting on the floor,
kind of having
this numb feeling of,
how could this happen?
You could see, uh...
You could see, uh...
his-- my son's
expression on his face.
his-- my son's
expression on his face.
My son broke down.
He broke down.
He broke down for a while.
Just 16 years old, a
very promising basketball star.
Just 16 years old, a
very promising basketball star.
Colleges were already
looking at him.
And even
some people in the NBA.
We still don't know
the cause of his death
but his family
and friends are mourning.
He had an enlarged heart.
It was something that
maybe could have been caught,
but it wasn't.
He was young.
So, you get these questions
that need to be answered.
So, you get these questions
that need to be answered.
I was confused on
why it happened
I was confused on
why it happened
and how it happened.
And when it happened.
He lost a bit of,
probably innocence that day,
just like the rest of us did,
knowing that somebody could be
with you, and then at the very
next moment, they're not there.
And you've got to give it
all that you have because
who knows what's going
to be taken from you?
Two years ago,
we were here with Khelcey.
Two years ago,
we were here with Khelcey.
Last game of the year.
You got to play it like
you don't have any more left.
He's supposed to be
here with us now.
It changed him a lot,
put him in a different space
that you could be here today
and gone tomorrow.
that you could be here today
and gone tomorrow.
[cheering]
ANNOUNCER: Let's see
how they start up
after that long intermission
for the retirement ceremony.
Well, that's
a good way to start,
with Westbrook
shooting the ball.
He kind of turned it up a notch
He kind of turned it up a notch
on the court because he knew
how Khelcey wanted to play,
you know?
And he played
as if he was there.
ANNOUNCER:
Penetration by Westbrook.
And he leans in and scores.
He's supposed to be
going to college,
playing university games,
but they're gonna make it.
playing university games,
but they're gonna make it.
And I know
they're going to always
continue to play for Khelcey.
ANNOUNCER: What a move
by Westbrook for three!
Russell's junior year, he
became the MVP of our league.
Russell's junior year, he
became the MVP of our league.
Westbrook goes to the hole.
Westbrook puts it up and in.
Senior year was so special.
Just the way Russell played
was very similar
to how Khelcey played.
He was able to score.
He was able to defend
at a high level,
ANNOUNCER: Rebound pass
stolen by Westbrook.
Westbrook goes around.
He was putting up 30.
They didn't take him out,
he was killing.
He was killing.
ANNOUNCER: That's Westbrook
with the spin move.
He was doing
everything that day.
ANNOUNCER: Here he comes,
flying in with a slam dunk.
One of Russ' coaches
had me fill the score book.
And I'm there filling the score
book and they're saying 51.
And I'm there filling the score
book and they're saying 51.
I was like, "Yo, 51? All right.
-You talking about Kobe."
-Westbrook, Overbrandt,
come on, join us here
for a quick second.
Yeah. Come on.
Russell Westbrook.
Well, I was close.
Sorry about that.
What kind of thoughts does
the team have right now?
Well, we want to come
to practice tomorrow,
Well, we want to come
to practice tomorrow,
practice hard and try to
get this win on Thursday
so we have a good chance
of making the playoffs.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook
puts it up and in.
Count it.
I didn't know
what was going on.
I'm like, every time
we go through the mailbox.
Letters, letters,
posters of Russ,
the rings from
all these colleges.
I'm like,
"Yo, bro, this is crazy.
You about to make it."
I didn't want
to go far away from home.
I love being around my family
and I didn't want
to lose that connection.
And UCLA came at the last,
last possible moment.
It's crazy
how everything transpired
because everything
that happened for Russell
was what people
envisioned for Khelcey.
I just want to thank God
for giving me this opportunity.
And I think my mom,
my dad, my little brother,
my coach,
and all my family members
and friends for coming out,
and all my family members
and friends for coming out,
see me going to college.
It's just a crazy
turn of events, man,
because this is what
he wanted to do.
This is what we talked about.
I never imagined that
to be happening for me.
[Donnell] It was almost
like Khelcey's spirit
jumped into Russell.
For sure, he carries
his soul with him, 100%.
For sure, he carries
his soul with him, 100%.
Russell still
keeps him in his heart
and he keeps him in his hands,
keeps him in the ball
and his shoe.
PRODUCER:
Are you playing for him?
Definitely.
That's the reason
why he's on my shoes.
I write him on my shoes
every single game.
I wear a wristband every day,
on my chains, everywhere.
I...
make sure I honor him
in any way that I can,
every time I step on the floor,
because I know
he would have been...
because I know
he would have been...
right with me, right in the--
in the NBA for sure.
[static rustling]
[ambient chatter]
ANNOUNCER:
Westbrook takes it inside.
Big move by the freshman.
He's a good size, 6'3",
18 years of age.
He's a good size, 6'3",
18 years of age.
He was very raw.
You can't really see
his skillset right away.
You saw that he was a big
guard, he was athletic,
but no one saw
that he was going to be able
to put it together.
I was a late freshmen
and I was basically a walk on.
I was a last minute
kind of decision because
that position
was already filled.
I was just kind of there.
I didn't play much,
averaged about two
or three minutes of game.
I remember one practice, I
had made a move to the basket.
I remember one practice, I
had made a move to the basket.
And then he rises up and then
he swatted that thing so hard.
And then he rises up and then
he swatted that thing so hard.
He said,
"Get that-- out of here."
He said,
"Get that-- out of here."
The gym was quiet
because it was like,
okay, you just said that.
You did that to him.
That's when you kind of knew
that this is Russ.
You know what I mean?
That was his mentality.
He was going to compete
against anybody
and he was going to talk trash.
And every day in practice,
we would go at it.
And every day in practice,
we would go at it.
[cheering]
My first thought of him was,
he's incredibly determined.
He's so competitive
and no matter who we faced,
He's so competitive
and no matter who we faced,
he was going to give it
everything that he had.
I would see him on the other
side of the court stretching.
I'm stretching.
I'm looking like, all right,
yeah, this is about to go down.
And that's
the relationship that we had
And that's
the relationship that we had
and we knew it was
going to be intense.
ANNOUNCER:
That's going to do it.
We're going to have
this Florida team
looking for more history
on Monday night.
RUSSELL: My freshman year,
we lost the Final Four.
RUSSELL: My freshman year,
we lost the Final Four.
ANNOUNCER: Good night, UCLA.
I went straight
to the weight room.
I didn't miss a day
from that day.
I probably put on...
hm, 10-15 pounds,
just lifting every day,
hm, 10-15 pounds,
just lifting every day,
getting my body
all worked out every day.
I didn't go home that summer.
You make me feel so light
I met Russell at UCLA.
I was a recruit, actually.
The women's coach at the time,
she used to use me
to be able to make sure
the recruits were cool
because I was chilling.
I don't know if she thought
I was a ladies man or what.
I don't know if she thought
I was a ladies man or what.
But I wasn't mad at it.
I wasn't mad at that.
I wasn't mad at that.
I will tell you, he was
very different in college.
I will tell you, he was
very different in college.
He was very shy. I thought that
was funny because I wasn't.
He was very shy. I thought that
was funny because I wasn't.
Our first date, I used to order
the crab wontons
from Cheesecake Factory.
I was like, here,
you should try it.
And I told her I was
allergic to shellfish.
And she's like...
-No, you're not.
-I'm, like,
trying to make sure
the date goes well,
trying to make sure
I do all the right things.
And he did, he tried it.
He had allergic reaction.
We had a go get Benadryl,
his throat is itching.
We had a go get Benadryl,
his throat is itching.
And he is like [grunting],
doing all of that.
I'm like,
don't eat the shellfish.
I don't know what to tell you.
I was definitely
rolling the dice
when I put
the wonton in, for sure.
when I put
the wonton in, for sure.
What attracted me
to Russell is,
What attracted me
to Russell is,
he was just focused on
doing his own thing.
he was just focused on
doing his own thing.
He would have a test coming up
and he'd be like, "Okay,
I'll see you tomorrow, or in
a couple days, I got to study."
It was like
a perfect match, honestly.
I was never really into
distractions or...
I was never really into
distractions or...
being--
I never really had a wild...
being--
I never really had a wild...
phase or anything like that.
And Russell was the same,
we kind of were family,
at school, you know, focused.
You saw glimpses of him being
a really, really good player.
You saw glimpses of him being
a really, really good player.
It was just a matter of him
putting it all together.
And I think his
sophomore year off season,
when he started playing
pickup more and more
against the pros was when he
was really going to take off.
During the summertime,
a lot of pros
would come in and you play
in the mans gym of UCLA,
would come in and you play
in the mans gym of UCLA,
and they let the college kids
play that went to UCLA.
I wanted to
take full advantage.
He was there every day
in the summer,
competing against those guys.
Everything kind of
turned a notch for me,
and I was at a level
where I felt like,
okay, maybe I
can play with these guys.
Every stage
that you take a step up,
whether it be
high school to college,
college to the NBA,
guys are just going
to get that much better.
guys are just going
to get that much better.
And it was, obvious that
he could play at that level.
And it was, obvious that
he could play at that level.
I said, "Wow, this guy's
going to be special."
I remember one time
Kobe came up there
and obviously the gym
is packed, wall to wall.
and obviously the gym
is packed, wall to wall.
Every student is in there,
you can't move.
And my first thing was like,
"I got Kobe."
He did a solid job on Kobe.
I mean, nobody can stop Kobe,
but, you know,
you talk about a guy
that's going to be a sophomore
in college doing a solid job,
on one of the best two guards
to ever play the game.
I remember him just
telling me like,
you going to be all right
because you came... at me.
And of course, yeah,
I was getting torched,
but I can live with that.
He was playing
like it was the finals.
He was playing
like it was the finals.
It wasn't like
he was taking this off.
He wasn't messing around
and shooting BS shots.
He was playing a game as if he
wasn't going to play tomorrow.
He was playing a game as if he
wasn't going to play tomorrow.
He created this mentality
in my mind, like,
this is
what greatness looks like.
This is what
you need to do every day.
Every time you step
on this floor,
every time you pick a ball up,
you need to play like you
ain't going to play no more.
And that's the mentality
that I've been able
to kind of take with me
to this day.
I think that sophomore year
is where he took a leap.
ANNOUNCER: The senior
from Jackson, Mississippi.
Westbrook
hurries to the other end.
And everything just
clicked for me, my athleticism.
ANNOUNCER:
Seven point footer down.
In the lane,
off the glass and in it.
Speed.
ANNOUNCER: And there's
a steal by Westbrook.
He takes it all away.
At that time, if you had
height, you were 6'3", 6'4",
you had to be a two guard and
you couldn't be a point guard.
ANNOUNCER: Here's Westbrook.
He is extraordinary.
So for him to play in a point
guard position and really well,
So for him to play in a point
guard position and really well,
was an eyeopener
for a lot of people.
[crowd chanting]
Russell Westbrook!
He kind of changed
that whole dynamic.
[crowd chanting]
Russell Westbrook!
ANNOUNCER:
He's got such quickness.
He reads. He's a step ahead.
[cheering]
[cheering]
You know
you wanna see that, baby?
That's what I'm talking about.
You know you wanna see it.
You know, this way, that way.
He's a champion,
Pac-10 tournament champion,
Russell Westbrook, and
defensive player of the year.
You got to be very,
very satisfied with that honor.
Man, I'm satisfied.
I mean, throughout start
of the year, coach told me,
he wanted me to be the
best defender in the country.
That's what I tried to do
throughout the whole year
by stopping
the other team's best player.
It feels real good going
to an tournament.
Mr. Momentum.
ANNOUNCER: All right,
Greg, a partisan crowd,
17,000, here in Anaheim.
So close to the campus
in the UCLA Bruins.
The number one seed
against number 16,
Mississippi Valley State
Delta Devils.
March Madness is about
the longer you win,
the more people see you.
-ANNOUNCER: Look at this.
-Oh my.
-ANNOUNCER: Look at this.
-Oh my.
I'm going to make sure
that I show the world
and show the people
from my neighborhood
that you can watch me on TV.
That I'm gonna
leave on the line,
I'm representing
where I'm from.
ANNOUNCER: Hello.
Take down the collar right now.
Westbrook. Unbelievable.
And the UCLA Bruins win it.
76-57.
We were playing Texas A&M
and we about to lose.
We were playing Texas A&M
and we about to lose.
We down the whole game,
I probably played
the worst half of
my college career at the time.
ANNOUNCER: They have cut
a 21 point deficit to six.
ANNOUNCER: They have cut
a 21 point deficit to six.
Because I was kind of
down on myself
throughout the whole game.
Like, damn, it's going
to be my fault that we lose.
It's going to be
my fault that we go home.
I'm not gonna be able
to go to the NBA.
I'm about to lose it.
I'm about to lose it.
And I remember that moment
just saying like,
man, we in the moment,
live in the moment.
The whole world is watching.
This is your time to shine.
This is your moment.
And don't fuck it up.
ANNOUNCER: And one
strips it from behind.
Westbrook, finally scores.
As time went on and
that meteoric rise in college
As time went on and
that meteoric rise in college
just continued upward,
I wasn't surprised.
ANNOUNCER:
Alison on the dribble,
with the block shot
and Westbrook taking it
the other way for
the exotic exclamation point.
the other way for
the exotic exclamation point.
What a great win!
Something within him,
and you still see it today,
Something within him,
and you still see it today,
is just driving him.
ANNOUNCER:
The final four is underway.
Whether it was his upbringing,
losing a best friend
when he was young,
you know, big Russ.
All of that, just kind
of initiates the flame for him.
All of that, just kind
of initiates the flame for him.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook.
This kid has come on
so big time his sophomore year.
I remember one time we
were talking about like, "Man,
what would it be like if
we all made the NBA and
what do we want when we get
there, if we do get there?"
what do we want when we get
there, if we do get there?"
And his one comment,
and I'll never forget
to this day was,
he was like, "You know what?
If I ever make it,"
he was like, "I just want
to be able to, like,
take care of my family."
He didn't want to make it
just for himself.
He wanted to make it
so he could provide
for everybody around him.
That's what
kind of build his fire.
I feel like God blessed me
with an opportunity to be able
I feel like God blessed me
with an opportunity to be able
to take full advantage of it,
to be able to take care of
the people that I love
and the people that have been
taking care of me
my whole life.
Once I made the decision
to build to go to the draft,
from then on my mind
and mentality
was in the space that
I couldn't get distracted.
I was going to class every day
and I was preparing for
draft in the afternoon,
I would come back
and go to class.
I remember people
used to be like,
"Man, what are you doing here?
What are you doing?"
I'm like, "Listen,
this is what I need to do."
Just because I didn't know,
I didn't know
what was gonna happen.
I wasn't going to be like,
"I'm not going
to school no more.
I don't need education."
Ultimately, he just decided
it was time for him to go
because he had done well.
it was time for him to go
because he had done well.
And this could be
a good opportunity for him,
but he was definitely
very nervous about it.
[static rustling]
[static rustling]
ANNOUNCER: You know who
the first two picks
-are gonna to be.
-ANNOUNCER: Clearly,
much has been made
about the fact
that this is basically
a two-player race for
the number one overall pick,
Derek Rose, Michael Beasley.
The first time my family,
all of us traveled on
an airplane to go to New York,
we never been there.
Never really experienced that.
I mean, we were sitting
in first class. I was like,
"This is exciting."
And you know,
forget the draft.
We get to chill.
We go to the room, they
got stuff in the room for us.
I'm like, man, this is cool.
We got free clothes,
we doing all that stuff.
I'm just like,
I'm just happy to be there.
That's just me.
I'm just happy to be there.
Welcome to the 2008 NBA draft.
Just looking forward to
get this old way, good times.
It happened so quick, man.
And two years earlier,
I'm graduating high school.
Two years later,
you say,
"Hey, we getting ready to go
to NBA draft."
Whoa, whoa, what?
What is happening?
What is happening?
REPORTER:
Take us back two years.
What kind of prospect were
you known as in media circles?
What kind of prospect were
you known as in media circles?
Nobody knew who I was.
Nobody knew who I was.
I mean, I like it like that.
Now, I remember
before the draft,
we all stand on the stage.
We got to take
a little pre-draft picture
with the commissioner.
with the commissioner.
And I remember
just looking down
and kind of going
and scanning the room like...
and kind of going
and scanning the room like...
All these players ahead
of him were highly ranked
in high school and in college.
And I remember he told me, he
said, one thing about the NBA,
is that ranking stuff
don't mean nothing no more.
You have people talk
and they go, "Russell will go
number 13, number 14."
And I asked my husband like,
so what do that mean?
Is he going to get
a lot of money now?
I didn't know.
With the fourth pick
in the 2008 NBA draft,
the Seattle SuperSonics select
Russell Westbrook from UCLA.
the Seattle SuperSonics select
Russell Westbrook from UCLA.
What? I'm like, what, what?
I don't
think anybody anticipated
he would get drafted
as early as he did.
Here's one of the
interesting things about him.
This guy was a late bloomer.
He did not even start
in his high school team
until his junior season.
Oh man, this is crazy.
I'm just all smiles, man.
I'm just so happy.
I see my mom and dad,
my brother, I'm just ecstatic.
I was just shocked.
I just couldn't believe it.
And right now today, I'm like
"Our whole life finna change."
-ANNOUNCER: Kevin Durant there.
-[woman] Hi, Kevin.
ANNOUNCER:
He's like, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Durant, the NBA rookie
of the year, this past season
welcomes Russell Westbrook
into the fold.
Once I got drafted to Seattle,
Once I got drafted to Seattle,
but soon to be
Oklahoma City Thunder.
I was like, damn, I'm about
to play with Kevin Durant.
I'm like, man,
this could be special.
I don't want to mess this up.
It's a nice city,
but there's nothing
to do out there.
Coming from inner city LA,
big city,
a lot of lights,
traffic, big buildings.
I get to Oklahoma City,
and there was none of that.
It probably was
a little culture shock.
I just think that was
the best place for him,
coming into the NBA.
It helped him
grow up into a man.
We had so many young players.
We had Royal Ivey at the time
and he used to call him
the Toys R Us crew.
The Toys R Us crew.
That's our group.
I rolled my eyes
at them sometimes,
because it was just
like, kids, man. You know?
But Kevin set the tone,
I think, by...
being someone who put in a ton
of work on his individual game.
And Russell came in,
I think he saw
And Russell came in,
I think he saw
how Kevin worked and
wanted to work just as hard.
He has a unique game.
What he does is different than
a lot of just straight
pick and roll point guards.
I think if you look back
at the game, you have guys
like Oscar Robinson,
Magic, John Stockton.
If you average 10-6, you
are considered a point guard.
And then evolution like
Barron Davis, Steve Francis
kind of changed it to a little
more of a scoring point guard.
For me, when I came to league,
I wanted to be able to score,
pass, rebound,
be able to do everything.
There are guys who,
you draft a guy and it's like,
There are guys who,
you draft a guy and it's like,
"This guy is like
a 'natural point guard,'
so to speak
and really sees the game."
And that wasn't
what Russell did best
when he first got here.
ANNOUNCER:
He's out of the pack.
Here's Westbrook racing
up the floor, coast to coast
and he throws it down.
His game wasn't refined.
He just tried to, like,
kill the guy in front of him.
ANNOUNCER: Off the backboard!
Not many players in
the league can do that.
Some of the stuff
he'd do would be wild.
He tried to throw it off
the backboard to himself,
like in game, things like that.
Made a ton of mistakes, and
I think, learned from those.
Ooh. One more try.
But I love the energy.
[cheering]
Kevin Durant is
the face of the franchise.
He's everything you could
want in a ball player,
but it's also hard to find
a point guard built like
an NFL defensive back.
If you could call him
a point guard.
ANNOUNCER: Oh, Westbrook.
It's always been a struggle.
I was trying
to figure out when to score,
when to shoot, when do
the right things on the floor.
But the way
I played the position,
it's like nobody else.
it's like nobody else.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook.
Pulling the trigger.
There's been a lot of
really young promising teams
in the league, but they don't
really break through
in the league, but they don't
really break through
to really win playoff series
and really compete
at a young age.
And I think the reason we did
that is because Russ's tone
was like, "We're here to win,"
and the way he would just
go at it fearlessly,
it brought
the whole team with him.
He's more
than Kevin Durant's sidekick.
He has
an NBA presence of his own.
He has entered star status.
Russell Westbrook, slam dunk
contest commercial, take 11.
Russell Westbrook, slam dunk
contest commercial, take 11.
Everything changed.
He was in the NBA
and I was living on campus,
going to school.
Then he would come into town
and stay in my dorm with me.
Then he would come into town
and stay in my dorm with me.
That was really embarrassing.
It was really weird for me.
PRODUCER: Why?
Just because he got
too much attention.
I don't really want
that kind of attention,
but it was convenient.
A lot of people
mentioned Oklahoma City,
as all market.
"You can't do anything
in a small market,
you can't get endorsement
in a small market.
You can't do this
in a small market."
I was like, "Watch this."
I was like, "Watch this."
Your boy's staying fresh
He's looking at my moves
It's called geek chic.
REPORTER: I love the glasses,
when did you come up
with that style?
I see better without them.
It's funny
now looking back on it,
Russ single handily basically
destroyed the NBA dress code.
Look at Russell Westbrook.
You got to be a hell of player
to wear that outfit.
I appreciated it because
they couldn't really enforce
me not wearing the right shoes
when Russell's walking in
me not wearing the right shoes
when Russell's walking in
with his shirt undone,
bare chested.
with his shirt undone,
bare chested.
Son, my son ripped it.
Reinventing himself
and establishing fashion
trends by the game.
He doesn't express himself
verbally a ton.
He doesn't express himself
verbally a ton.
So I think, if you just pay
attention to what he's got on,
So I think, if you just pay
attention to what he's got on,
you'll get a little insight
into how he's feeling that day.
you'll get a little insight
into how he's feeling that day.
I believe everyone
knows why I wear this.
I believe everyone
knows why I wear this.
Sometimes, he will just
have on normal sweat pants.
Sometimes, he will just
have on normal sweat pants.
And sometimes it's like,
he is so loud
And sometimes it's like,
he is so loud
and we can be going
to the same place.
He looks like he's going on
vacation in Hawaii somewhere,
and I look like
I'm going to a dinner party.
And I'm always trying
to coordinate with Russell.
And I'm always trying
to coordinate with Russell.
"Can we please look
like we're going to
the same place tonight?"
Barneys threw a party
in honor of him
and his clothing line.
Yeah, he had the full mink.
He was killing me
with that one.
I want one of those coats,
but as a fashion king,
he going to bring
something new out every day.
Here's you coming to the game,
and everyone just thought
that you were stealing.
[all laughing]
Just saying, man, come on.
RUSSELL: Yeah. I mean, I guess
he's copying me. It's true.
As with all things
with Russell,
he was like,
"I'm going to be me.
So this is just what I'm
wearing and I'll make it cool."
And that's kind of how
he approaches life, I think.
And that's kind of how
he approaches life, I think.
REPORTER:
People call you a style icon.
I mean, how do you take that?
What does that mean to you?
It's a blessing.
I do this on my own,
no stylist.
And I just kind of go
and have my own swag
and I think that's the
greatest part about it.
I never grew up thinking
I would be famous,
never grew up thinking I'm
going to have a lot of money.
My parents always taught me,
stay grounded,
stay humble
and understand who you are.
So when it started to happen,
I wasn't phased by it,
So when it started to happen,
I wasn't phased by it,
because I
was true to who I was.
He just like me.
I don't look at
another person
to see what they're wearing
and try to put,
I put it together myself.
and try to put,
I put it together myself.
I don't ask for nobody opinion.
Let me see.
You got... No, let me see.
I want some slouch socks,
you got slouch socks?
I want some slouch socks,
you got slouch socks?
No slouch socks?
No. I said show me.
I didn't know they still
had it going on like this.
They're still
-cracking though, Mom?
-Oh, it's nice.
Get a little sweat suit.
We used come here--
How often do we come here, Mom?
-Every other weekend.
-Yeah.
At least every other weekend.
We couldn't come all the time.
We had to make sure
we could afford it,
before we come here
and get everything.
My mom's greatest impact
on me that she has
My mom's greatest impact
on me that she has
when I was younger
until now is...
when I was younger
until now is...
being very level-headed
through all the chaos.
Check it out, check it out.
Check it out, check it out.
SHANNON: It's where
they got the t-shirt set.
RUSSELL: Oh, right here.
We shopped here so many times
and I've gotten school clothes,
We shopped here so many times
and I've gotten school clothes,
jerseys, hats,
beanies, socks, drawers.
Oh yeah. That's what I need.
Hello.
She always kept
everything together
and a lot of stuff,
I don't know.
And a lot of stuff I've learned
as I've gotten older,
of taking me to school,
taking my brother to school,
picking my dad up from work,
then going to work,
doing different things.
There's so much going on.
I could never tell that
that was happening.
And that's something that I
And that's something that I
can always reference to
when I feel like
there's something,
I have so much going on.
I have this,
that and the other.
-Haha.
-This is it.
Hold on Keith, I got action.
These sweats,
extra large in gray?
These sweats,
extra large in gray?
Because I haven't
been here so long.
Just like a kid in
the candy store running around,
just trying to grab
everything that I can.
Oh yeah. I know the beanie.
How you doing?
Two for five, or $3 each.
Oh, my.
She was always the one
that kept me in the loop of--
of fashion,
always kept me trendy.
Always making sure
that whatever that
we could afford,
she would make sure that I had.
How much for Lysol?
[indistinct response]
Oh, okay. Thank you.
And just keep going as
you go around. Huh?
How much for Lysol?
[indistinct]
Bargain shopping is the best.
My mom always taught me that.
Just understanding where you
don't have to buy everything
at a high price, but also you
can bargain and still be fresh.
I might go to the high
end stores every now and then.
Mostly he's like,
"Mommy, you want to go there?"
"Yeah, we can go."
If I see something,
he going to buy it.
I'm like, okay, we're going
to buy it. I'll take it.
I told Ray, we going to go to
the Wienerschnitzel after this.
I told Ray, we going to go to
the Wienerschnitzel after this.
I don't know.
Is it still over there?
You done got three for three.
There's these
Michael Jordan shoes
that came out, Jordan 9's.
My mom stood in line
for hours and hours
to make sure that
I had these shoes.
And to me that was...
something I would never forget
because it wasn't about
the shoes. It was more about,
she knew that I had an interest
in fashion
and understanding about
the world of fashion,
understanding
this is something
that I was passionate about.
I got to a point
in my career where
I was playing
at a high level and playing
at a level where
Jordan and MJ recognized that.
And the brand
came to me like, "Listen,
we want to give you your own
signature basketball shoe."
I'm like, "Whoa, wait."
And I'm like,
"Damn, this is crazy."
Now this is a different level.
I remember having that meeting
at my agent's office
at the time.
And I remember everybody
just kind of...
And I remember everybody
just kind of...
clearing out the room.
And I remember sitting there
just like this, just like damn.
My own basketball shoe,
that's crazy.
I remember getting the boxes.
Whoosh! One big delivery.
I'm like, wow.
Whoosh! One big delivery.
I'm like, wow.
I remember going through
every single box.
Like, what are these?
Damn, what is this?
What is this? What is this?
Crying just by myself, because
Crying just by myself, because
I just remember the struggle
my parents had to endure.
I'm literally thinking
like, damn,
this is a blessing
on many levels, but, like...
this is a blessing
on many levels, but, like...
I was like,
I ain't going to mess this up.
[static rustling]
[static rustling]
ANNOUNCER:
Congratulations, Kevin.
You've had a great run
and hope it continues for you
in the NBA finals.
Here are your
Western Conference Champions
heading to the NBA finals,
The Oklahoma City Thunders.
heading to the NBA finals,
The Oklahoma City Thunders.
That season
was unbelievable, man.
We was really connected
on so many levels.
We all in,
we want to win a championship
regardless of stats,
regardless of the numbers,
regardless of the accolades,
we want to win a championship.
And we feel like we have
enough in this room to do it.
And the rise to
the finals was quick.
FAN: Are you ready
for the NBA finals?
-[all cheering]
-And in the finals against
the LeBron and Bosch
and Wade another team
with experience
that was ready to win.
A Miami team that's just lost
in the finals last year.
A Miami team that's just lost
in the finals last year.
And they get
to the finals again,
we got home court advantage.
ANNOUNCER: The Chesapeake
Energy Arena is alive,
ANNOUNCER: The Chesapeake
Energy Arena is alive,
as these fans are delirious
about their thunder.
We was young, it was a sense of
like arrogancy, but confident.
We was young, it was a sense of
like arrogancy, but confident.
But also we know
we got this room
and we never really care
who the matchup was.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook
season opening. Westbrook.
Splits plus hand,
he touched the net and a foul.
Ties the game with 16.4
to play here on the third.
One game won and felt like
we got a really good shot
to win this.
ANNOUNCER: Russell Westbrook
was magnificent,
burning with a triple double.
Us winning the first game
was the worst thing
that happened to us.
OKC swarm them,
once they get going,
the other team gets back
on their heels
and OKC just
keeps coming at you.
There's about three days
before the next game.
There's about three days
before the next game.
And there's a whole
three days, two days,
all you hear the media
talking about is...
A lot of Durant,
a lot of Westbrook,
a lot of second half.
Durant and Westbrook
went sonic boom
on the Heat all by themselves.
The Thunder,
Heat, Thunder, Heat.
Why did the Heat
struggle to contain
Russell Westbrook so much?
He can do it off the dribble.
He's an explosive athlete, and
he never lacks for confidence.
I remember being at home
and I'm like mentally,
I got to turn
this shit off, because...
every media person across
the world is talking about
how this young team can beat
a LeBron James and the Heat
and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Thunder, not the Heat are
the favorites in these finals.
The Thunder, not the Heat are
the favorites in these finals.
That started to seep
into our locker room.
Like, damn, okay.
We got to fight through this.
We got to fight this temptation
and not letting this seep in
because they were a hungry team
and they didn't want
to get back to the finals
and lose again.
Especially to some young guns
that just got here.
And... we was
feeling ourself too much.
COMMENTATOR:
The Heat have come out
with a vengeance
here on the first quarter.
A 17-point lead.
I believe that it made
the Heat more aggressive
and also believe it made us...
relax and felt like
we had things under control,
which we clearly didn't.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook.
It's inside, back to Perkins,
mishandles it.
Ibaka tried to get it,
Wade takes it away
and throws it down.
Pull up jumper from Westbrook
rattles in and out.
Westbrook dives again,
gets inside, missed it.
Westbrook dives again,
gets inside, missed it.
And he's off to a tough start
shooting the ball.
They came and beat us
the second game on our court.
And I knew going to Miami
going to be difficult.
We were young
and we were in Miami.
We were young
and we were in Miami.
A lot going on in the city,
a lot going on outside of
the basketball court
that can distract us.
COMMENTATOR: A devastating
defeat for Oklahoma City.
Now it's two one.
Third straight game,
hanging in the balance
in the final minute.
And Battier knocks it away
and they foul Chalmers.
And Battier knocks it away
and they foul Chalmers.
Why are they fouling?
A poor decision
from Russell Westbrook.
And now they'll be facing
elimination on the road.
And now they'll be facing
elimination on the road.
They had a lot of experienced
guys that played in
many deep playoff games,
we didn't.
And I think that's where
they kind of had
their advantage over us.
Now, boom, they're celebrating
on the quarter, final's over.
COMMENTATOR:
It's a bitter disappointment,
but they had a remarkable run.
And it happened that fast, like
damn, it happened so quick.
I was very disappointed
in Russell Westbrook.
That was the worst point guard
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
That was difficult to take
for many reasons because
Magic was a player that I...
Somebody, I kind of
looked up to at the time.
Somebody, I kind of
looked up to at the time.
One of my favorite players
at the time.
One of my favorite players
at the time.
And I was like, okay.
Darren Collison I can't imagine
as a player you see one of
the best point guards to ever
play the game, if not the best.
the best point guards to ever
play the game, if not the best.
Imagine them making
a comment on your game.
I mean,
you could feel really low,
especially in the biggest stage
of the NBA, the finals.
For my parents,
for people that look up to me,
For my parents,
for people that look up to me,
for people around the world,
that's listening,
because it's Magic Johnson,
people take
what he say seriously.
The worst point guard
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
And for me, I'm like...
bullshit. Did I play bad?
bullshit. Did I play bad?
There's a possibility
I could've played bad.
MAGIC JOHNSON: He was too wild.
He was taking
off balance shots.
I believe that the stage
that we were on
I believe that the stage
that we were on
kind of magnified my play,
magnified the mistakes I made.
kind of magnified my play,
magnified the mistakes I made.
Got to come out and
set the tone with Kevin Durant.
He's learning this stuff in the
most pressure filled moments.
And when the stakes are
at the highest,
when everybody's watching on TV
and then the next day
everyone's talking about it
all day to fill the space of
the talk shows all day long.
Second half, James Harden
who was on had two shots.
Kevin Durant
couldn't find the ball.
You're Russell Westbrook,
you're averaging 27 points
in the NBA finals.
But my concern is
that's what that seems to be
what he's most concerned about.
I just think
there was a lot of things
that were said about him
that was just unfair.
The level of selfishness
that I saw
in game two last night
was so alarming.
Said a little bit
about who I was.
Russell Westbrook has a huge
ego and a small basketball IQ.
Russell Westbrook has a huge
ego and a small basketball IQ.
They were disrespecting...
They were disrespecting...
me, disrespecting our family.
He is egregious.
He is unconscionable.
He is unconstitutional.
He is asinine, ten,
eleven and twelve.
They raised me.
They know who I am.
They raised me.
They know who I am.
But this is
the biggest stage in sports.
People watch the finals
all across the world.
And they're hearing these
things said about their son.
And they're hearing these
things said about their son.
It completely put me
in a place of rage.
It completely put me
in a place of rage.
Now, are
you upset with something?
You shouldn't be upset.
I just don't like you.
-You don't?
-No.
Every day
there's something new about me.
It's like
the good looking girl,
nasty personality.
She'll say anything.
She'll do anything.
But she looks good.
The big media narrative
was probably just
not a pure point guard.
He'd take a lot of shots.
He's got Kevin on his team.
And if a game where Kevin
didn't get enough shots
and Russ took a bunch of shots
and we lost, it would be,
he's shooting too much,
he's not passing.
Those type of things.
These dynamic point guards,
they got to give the ball up.
Westbrook doesn't.
The media's like, no,
because you're a point guard,
you can't take over the game.
You have to make this play
and you have to give it
to this player.
and you have to give it
to this player.
What do you say
to people who question
whether or not
they say a point guard
is supposed to
be passing the ball.
This guy shouldn't be shooting
more than you in any game.
The narrative was like,
you take away from Kevin.
The narrative was like,
you take away from Kevin.
And regardless of what
that takeaway may be,
whether it's you're doing good,
you're doing bad.
It was like, no,
you shouldn't be doing this.
You should be
a prototypical point guard.
He's inflexible.
His personality's inflexible.
His game is inflexible.
A ball-centric, delusional,
A ball-centric, delusional,
undisciplined wreck.
Mentally,
it was difficult for me.
I would go home and...
figure out like,
man, am I tripping?
Is it my fault?
Because I don't want
to be the reason why
somebody don't feel like
they can get
the best out themselves because
of something I was doing.
I don't know what
the media is doing out here,
but everybody needs
to just lay off Russell.
Yeah, that's
a bad little dude, man.
He's got the same type
of dog that I had in me.
I remember
the conversations of,
I remember
the conversations of,
if I was a ball-hog,
I wasn't passing.
I was like, okay,
well, I'm going to lead
the league in assists.
So I do that again,
and again, and again.
COMMENTATOR: Russell continues
to pileup those assists.
That's not a thing anymore.
It's like, okay, well...
I'm going to show you
that I'm the best...
rebounding guard ever.
COMMENTATOR: There's not
a better rebounding guard
in the league.
Shocker there, it's Westbrook.
Shocker there, it's Westbrook.
Just because I played
the game like nobody else
and leave it on the line
with passion
and aggression and energy,
don't mean that...
I'm a bad teammate,
or I'm selfish,
or I'm not a good guy,
or uncoachable.
or I'm not a good guy,
or uncoachable.
And it was getting
so crazy because
the fans started listening.
I hear the boo's for Westbrook.
This is what we came
to see right here.
I was getting booed
in every arena.
And I just say, I'm done.
I'm done talking about it.
I'm done entertaining it.
So next time when the
media asks me, they will get...
B.S. answers from me.
Did you guys lose this game
or did the Jazz win this one?
What?
I need to strip.
Because I'm not about
to even involve myself in
no dumb stuff like that.
But next question, man.
Part of a basketball
player's job is to
answer questions at
the press conference.
It's not between me and you.
Next question.
-It's a legitimate question.
-Next question.
To do this on
a day to day basis.
Next question, next.
To this guy.
To me is a little selfish,
a little childish as well.
Next question. Next question.
Next question.
No more questions for you, bro.
Could I handle it
differently with the media?
Probably, so.
Do I regret some of the things,
how I handled it?
Maybe some of them,
but most of the time
I didn't talk to them,
or I gave them...
attitude because
I was very aware of
the things that was being said.
He's intense on the court.
When he feels a like he's
being attacked he's intense.
When he feels a like he's
being attacked he's intense.
If someone was on TV,
talking crazy about him
the night before, and he sees
him in real life the next day,
and they ask him a question,
like everything is all good.
He's not going to answer
like everything's all good.
We heard you, we saw you.
And then
he gets painted the bad guy
because he's not okay with
people trashing him on TV.
It was a turning point.
It made me think about, okay,
I got a lot of things to prove.
It made me think about, okay,
I got a lot of things to prove.
Russell Westbrook presenting
his first reading room
for Oklahoma City
public schools.
There we go.
There we go. There we go.
Magic.
Russell has
a polarizing personality.
On one end he's dancing,
the other end he's angry.
But he gets totally
misunderstood about who he is.
But he gets totally
misunderstood about who he is.
So what you want?
Let me see.
No, don't just pick anything.
What you like to read?
Oh, this is Lego Star Wars.
Let me see.
His personality may
be misunderstood at times
His personality may
be misunderstood at times
with the attitude
he may have in the media,
because they may have
rubbed him the wrong way
by saying something
that he didn't appreciate.
But no, Russell's not like
that outside of basketball.
But no, Russell's not like
that outside of basketball.
You're going to read it?
You sure?
Okay. Now you got to keep it
and take it home.
It's your first book.
So you got to get it
and come back
and get another one.
I never jumped about
being in this position.
I never jumped about
being in this position.
Never jumped about
being in the NBA,
but I understand that
me being in this position
allows me to be able to connect
and reach so many people
across the world.
And my parents always
told me to be humbled
And my parents always
told me to be humbled
and be thankful and be
gracious of what you have,
and be thankful and be
gracious of what you have,
but also remember
where you come from.
And I think that's a huge part
of just how I operate.
I was in the same position
as some of these kids
I was in the same position
as some of these kids
and I grew up in
the Boys and Girls Club.
Now I'm just honor to blessed
for be in a position I am now
to be able to give back
and do something like this
for different families
and kids.
You never know who's watching,
something that
my dad always taught me.
Could have been that kid
that grew up in the hood
of Oklahoma City
and had one ticket
in that particular night,
if I didn't bring it
and I feel like I was
letting that kid down.
Fuel me to constantly
bring what I had every day,
fueled me to be able to
make sure that I left the game
changing somebody's
perspective of me.
Hello, hello, hello everyone.
How you guys doing?
I want to thank Edwards
Elementary School.
Thank you for letting me open
my fourth Reading Room
here in Oklahoma City.
[cheering]
A lot of people give money,
but I want to be the guy that
A lot of people give money,
but I want to be the guy that
you can touch,
you can relate to,
a guy that you can understand.
Get one. We won't going
to give you nothing, homie.
God has giving me a special
gift to be able to...
hold a lot of weight and do
a lot of different things
and have my hands in
so many different things.
I feel like He...
put this on me, it's 'cause
he knows I can handle it.
The school, the organization
has really stepped up
and reached out to families.
has really stepped up
and reached out to families.
So many grants for families
that weren't working.
-Mm-hmm.
-The organization was
helping with that.
And they still need supplies.
They still need things.
He will literally be upset
because he feels like he's not
He will literally be upset
because he feels like he's not
doing enough all the time.
doing enough all the time.
And I think it's the weirdest,
craziest thing.
I'm like, you're doing plenty,
just chill.
The Community Assist Award
really goes to that player
who really gives back
to the community
and cares about the community.
And there hasn't been a player
more representative of that,
And there hasn't been a player
more representative of that,
than Russell this year.
I'm in a process
of sealing and dealing,
sealing and dealing,
wheeling and dealing.
There's not one day
I wake up and be like, damn,
I got too much to do.
I got too many people...
in my ear,
I got too much going on.
Because...
I know that
I'm the person that's
I know that
I'm the person that's
supposed to take care of it.
[static rustling]
COMMENTATOR: For the
second time in three years,
and the fourth time
in the past six,
the Thunder in the Western
Conference finals.
13 at Oklahoma city takes
on record-setting
73-win defending
NBA champion, Golden State.
We had gone to
the finals in '12
and I think we thought
we would be back.
We didn't get there in '13.
We didn't get there in '14.
Everybody was hurt in '15.
We didn't have appreciate
for how hard that was
going to be to get back.
And so I think we cherished
that opportunity
And so I think we cherished
that opportunity
a lot more than
we did the first time.
COMMENTATOR: Loser of
two consecutive games,
Oklahoma city summons
all it has for game seven
on the road tonight.
There's a short amount
of time in your career
where you have a chance
to win a championship.
[cheering]
It's not something
that you wake up
and you're like, oh yeah,
I'm great,
so I'm a winning championship.
No, it doesn't work that way.
Number one,
you got to stay healthy.
You got to have a good team.
You got to have
a good organization.
Good coaching.
You got to be lucky.
It's a lot of things that have
to go your way
to be able to win.
COMMENTATOR: He fires!
[cheering]
COMMENTATOR: That's the score
here at [indistinct] Arena.
COMMENTATOR: That's the score
here at [indistinct] Arena.
I'm pissed. I'm livid.
I'm pissed. I'm livid.
I felt like...
we let that
opportunity slip away.
And that to me was the...
biggest, just, kind of
upsetting thing about it,
which really pissed me off.
And I was just like...
And I was just like...
if we have the same team,
we can do it again.
Anthony Slader with Oklahoma.
Kevin, you know,
the loss is still fresh,
but you have kind of
an unknown future
coming over the next month.
an unknown future
coming over the next month.
How do you expect
that to play out?
And when you'll start
thinking about it.
I mean, it's, we just lost
like 30 minutes ago.
Myself and Kevin had
a unique situation,
because Kevin was really,
really good early.
I wasn't that great.
Kevin was
always getting better,
and getting better,
getting better.
My evolution happened
pretty quickly
to where we never was equal,
but we were pretty damn close
of being able to hold our own
and run the organization
and to do things that
can change the game.
A very active Kevin Durant
and Russell Westbrook,
obviously in disagreement.
They both...
were trying to establish
who they were in this league.
And there were times
where late in games,
one guy wants the shot,
the other one gets the shot.
But I think there was always
a respect and an understanding.
But I think there was always
a respect and an understanding.
Internally we would
try to figure out how to
make each other better,
how to evolve.
make each other better,
how to evolve.
KEVIN DURANT: There's times
where Russell comes to me
on the court and gets in
my face and tells me,
you should have shot the ball,
you should have
passed the ball.
Stuff like that.
And as a player and as a person
that wants to get better,
I can't always be
defensive about it.
I got to be a guy
that's willing to learn.
We talk all the time
as teammates.
Was able to get some things off
our chest about each other,
which I think
was very beneficial because
it allowed us to
see some of the things
that he didn't like
about myself.
It allowed me to see some
things I didn't like about him.
Kevin Durant Russell was a guy
that's aggressive forward.
So he has a chip on his
shoulder, like everybody says,
and people think that's
hurting me as a player.
And I think
I've gotten better, actually.
I don't see
what the problem is.
I enjoy playing with Russell.
We've grown to be
like brothers.
And that's
the best thing about it.
Coming to work
with your brother.
We had it pretty damn packed,
We had it pretty damn packed,
because nobody could stop
from what we were doing
for many years.
But the outside noise
of people, the media,
But the outside noise
of people, the media,
creates a problem.
If you're not strong mentally
to be able to withstand it.
I feel sorry for Kevin Durant,
he is stuck
with Russell Westbrook.
This team will never
win a championship
with Russell Westbrook
as the primary decision maker.
with Russell Westbrook
as the primary decision maker.
The news again,
coming in moments ago,
Kevin Durant heading to
the Golden State Warriors.
He didn't feel he could
win a championship
with Russell Westbrook.
I can't play
an entire career with a guy
who thinks he's better than me,
when he's clearly not.
I start laughing instantly.
I'm like this can't be true.
It's like, no.
No way he would go to
that team, they just beat us.
Did the fact that
not only Kevin left,
but it was to Golden State, did
that make it sting even more?
but it was to Golden State, did
that make it sting even more?
Sting for who?
It was already conversations of
if I was good enough,
or if I can hold my own team,
or if I could...
do things alone without Kevin.
You better have hope in OKC,
You better have hope in OKC,
Westbrook continues to pass
more than shoot,
and they can get past
the first round.
I'll be lying to say that
it didn't affect me,
didn't affect...
my thought process.
It did. It made me...
pissed off.
It made me more...
competitive,
made me want to go out and...
and do things that
nobody's ever seen,
that been done before.
His pride.
His pride as a superstar.
That's where
he getting that from.
He came back like, I'm the face
of this organization now,
and I need to lead this team.
It was an opportunity to go, be
all he could be on the court.
COMMENTATOR: Here's Westbrook
racing up the court,
coast to coast.
And he throws it down.
[cheering]
That's rude, folks.
Oh, do you believe that guy?
It's just sick.
I had so much...
built up rage and, like,
every opportunity
I had to go out
and do whatever I need to do,
I would make sure that
it was done in a way that
people would be like,
damn, why are you so mad?
Russell was not going
to let anybody
take his head off without him
going down swinging.
And that's just his mentality.
It's almost like
a character flaw.
KEVIN LOVE: He's always looking
for the smallest slight
to get to that next level.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook sees
an opening and throws it down.
Russell will hold onto
something from five years ago
and still let it trigger his
competitive nature to this day.
and still let it trigger his
competitive nature to this day.
COMMENTATOR: Jail break.
What a pass, what a pass.
COMMENTATOR: Jail break.
What a pass, what a pass.
He nutmegged Corey Joseph--
He had so many
big shots that year.
COMMENTATOR:
Back out, Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook!
The triple double
thing was fun.
Seeing those
every single night.
COMMENTATOR: Rebound deflected.
Taken by Westbrook.
Throws ahead.
What a pass to Oladipo.
And a triple double
for Russell Westbrook.
What a year he's having.
No thanks, but...
To the man above, man.
So thankful to be able
to play the game I love.
And I was happy we got the win.
I was just doing what
I had to do for us to win.
That's really how I felt.
The game always
will tell me what to do.
And If it's passing,
then it's passing.
If it's rebound,
then it gets rebounded.
If you're scoring,
then it's that.
If it's all three,
then you need to do all three.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook
with the rebound.
Here we go.
Russell driving,
Russell scoring!
Westbrook with
the triple double.
20 triple doubles
for Westbrook.
Three in a row.
Do you think you
he can maintain
this triple double average
for the entire season?
I think if he puts
his mind to it, yes.
You know, for so many years
we talked about him.
He's doing too much.
He's doing this.
So now for the first year
he's getting
everybody involved,
making his teammates better,
and he is playing
beautiful basketball.
I get to triple double about,
you know, 35, 36.
I get to triple double about,
you know, 35, 36.
The road crowds
and home crowds,
they start keeping count.
So now it becomes a thing.
And it's hard to not
think about it
because people are talking
about it all the time.
Russell is in Russell heaven
without Kevin Durant.
And never seen
anything like it.
This is your seventh
straight triple double.
Number 41 on this season.
You're now 16 assists
from averaging a triple double.
You're now 16 assists
from averaging a triple double.
This is the MVP!
I've been so long
of people booing me
and talking crazy to me.
And I was in shock because
every arena
was cheering for me.
I ain't used to none of this.
COMMENTATOR:
And another three Westbrook.
Why not? Why not?
And the running man,
Russell Westbrook.
We're watching something that
hasn't happened since 1962.
We're watching something that
hasn't happened since 1962.
The triple double
has been folklore forever.
I hate betting against the guy
because every time I say,
well, he's not going to do it,
he's doing it.
But it's got to catch up
with him at some point.
I remember everybody,
my mom, dad,
I remember everybody,
my mom, dad,
wife was like,
this is not sustainable.
But in my mind,
I was like, I'm crazy.
My mind made up that...
it ain't nothing going to stop
me from what's about to happen.
COMMENTATOR:
Thunders out of time outs.
Adams gives it back to Russ.
He shot it. Get it!
[cheering]
What a perfect ending
to a historic day.
Russell Westbrook
stands with one of
the greatest in NBA history.
stands with one of
the greatest in NBA history.
KEVIN DURANT: I got to give
a huge shout out, man,
to the Brody, man,
Russell Westbrook,
man, on
his historical season, man.
It's just certain things
that you never think
you going to see or never think
that's going to be broken.
ANNOUNCER:
The only other player
to ever take
triple double in a season,
to ever take
triple double in a season,
please give a warm Oklahoma
welcome to Lester Robertson.
please give a warm Oklahoma
welcome to Lester Robertson.
It kind of hit me like, this
is history, not just for me,
but this is way
bigger than even myself.
I think that what he has done
has been historic in nature.
He's played with
passion and pride.
I only have
one more thing to say. MVP!
[crowd cheering]
And the winner of the 2017 NBA
Most Valuable Player
award is...
Russell Westbrook.
[applause]
It was a special year,
just overall,
because I truly
felt accomplished.
because I truly
felt accomplished.
I want to thank my family.
Without you guys,
I want to thank my family.
Without you guys,
I don't know where I would be.
Your support, your sacrifice,
everything
you guys have done for me.
I told myself
I ain't going to cry, but...
I told myself
I ain't going to cry, but...
[applause]
[applause]
We didn't win
the championship, no.
We didn't get out the
first round, no. But...
to be able to share
with my family
and my teammates and
show my support to the city
of Oklahoma, felt like...
show my support to the city
of Oklahoma, felt like...
we proved
a lot of people wrong.
And well, our point was made.
I'm very, very thankful
and a blessed man to go out
I'm very, very thankful
and a blessed man to go out
and compete, man. And like
I've said many, many times.
and compete, man. And like
I've said many, many times.
So, I don't take
this game for granted.
I don't take going on the floor
and competing for granted.
And God got something
planned for me, man,
nobody can stop it. I always
continue to follow His faith
and stay faithful
and just stay strong
and stay faithful
and just stay strong
and continue to do
what I'm doing.
Nothing in my life
would be possible.
The things
I'm able to accomplish
wouldn't be possible.
Me sitting here talking
wouldn't be possible. Me...
doing things
to help other people,
having a platform
wouldn't be possible
without me having faith in God.
That's the most important thing
about this entire journey.
That's the most important thing
about this entire journey.
COMMENTATOR: Here it is.
20, 20, 20 game.
First time since 1968.
First time since 1968.
That's for his God.
He really hustle.
It allows me to go
and do things on the court,
It allows me to go
and do things on the court,
off the court, play with
a passion, play with the edge,
off the court, play with
a passion, play with the edge,
play with a sense of really
not caring what happens
because I know
win, lose, or draw
that I'm covered
by the man above,
regardless of any result.
COMMENTATOR: Spins.
Kicks Adams. Another slam.
We just watched history here.
We just watched history here.
Is he the king
of the triple double?
-Of this generation, yes.
-Of this. Okay...
But when you talk about
the king of triple doubles,
there's three guys ahead
of him. Jason Kidd being
the next guy in line,
then Magic Johnson.
-Buck, buck.
-And then the big O.
Russell Westbrook could
never be the king of the triple
double, because the king
put up a score that was so high
that nobody could take it down.
[static]
[static]
[muffled chatter]
[muffled chatter]
[cameras clicking]
[cameras clicking]
And I'm pleased
to welcome Russell Westbrook
and his wonderful family
to Houston.
He plays with an energy,
a passion,
a will to win that I think
is really unparalleled
in the league.
To have that on
our bench now is incredible.
JOURNALIST: So Russell,
what can you say that
those of us have only seen
you as an opponent don't know
about you? Something that
you'd like for people to know.
That I'm a nice guy.
[man chuckling]
COMMENTATOR: There's
a little fatigue with Russell
in the triple double.
Once he did it, Skip,
the luster has gone away.
Well, I don't know why,
why are you getting numb to it?
Because who's doing it?
I was getting to a point where
I was like, man, you know,
it's getting difficult.
You felt like he was
having to fight
public perception inside
of his own home, basically.
I think he went from
Mr. Triple Double
to Mr. Nothing but Trouble.
The fans got in his head,
the press got in his head.
He's got to get it together.
I was feeling like
it was starting to control
who I was becoming as a person,
how I was playing.
And I wasn't in
a space mentally,
And I wasn't in
a space mentally,
to continue in Oklahoma city.
to continue in Oklahoma city.
You want me to tell you
what I normally tell you?
What? That I got my chest out?
Why do you got
your titties all out?
Well, because if
you're not, you got to show.
I'm going to show
my date. Okay, okay.
Don't start.
It's like the first day
of school.
I know!
You look good, Russell.
[speaking indistinctly]
Okay, okay.
You got your ratchet brown
lunch bag.
[laughing]
I got my lunch bag. I'm ready.
Go give Momma a kiss.
[laughing]
[laughing]
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
I'mma always have faith in
whatever is happening,
I'mma always have faith in
whatever is happening,
because we all got
put on this Earth
for a particular reason.
And it's not just a easy ride.
And it's not just a easy ride.
When you're able to be yourself
and be who you are,
everything else
will fall in place.
REPORTER: China has more
than 200 confirmed cases
of Coronavirus, it's called,
which produces
pneumonia-like symptoms.
which produces
pneumonia-like symptoms.
SECOND REPORTER: The mysterious
virus now reaching Europe,
with confirmed cases in France
and nine other countries.
It's going to disappear
one day. It's like a miracle.
It will disappear.
Coronavirus officially
hitting the US.
World Health Organization has
officially declared a pandemic.
Alarming news tonight about
the coronavirus,
devastating at every level.
REPORTER:
A sudden jump in infections.
Tragic new numbers
on the pandemic.
One million deaths.
-The virus raging.
-Morgues overflow.
It's time to cancel everything.
-Stay at home.
-Stay at home.
REPORTER: Stay at home,
lock yourself inside
and don't come out.
[dramatic music]
[static]
[static]
[child babbling]
[child babbling]
It's a lot of cars.
Yeah, you got a lot of cars.
Daddy got a lot of cars too.
Daddy do got a lot of cars too.
Daddy do got a lot of cars too.
We got
the same thing in common.
The first thing
you think about is
make sure my family was fine.
My mom, my dad,
brother, my wife, kids,
My mom, my dad,
brother, my wife, kids,
and making sure
that they were... fine
and making sure
that they were okay,
and they had everything
that they need
moving forward, because
I felt like it was going
to get very, very serious where
you may not be able
to leave the house.
Taking you out this seat.
-What do you want me to do?
-To push you.
You got to use your muscles if
you want to get me
out the seat. One.
Not playing for three months,
actually personally,
I like it. I like to rest.
I think resting and being able
to sit back and gather
my thoughts. Get healthy.
Hang with the family.
Hang with the family.
I don't mind it one bit.
What's wrong with you?
Tired?
I'm more happy than they are.
[yelling]
[yelling]
What's my name?
-Dada.
-There you go.
To my family, I'm just Russell.
I'm the guy that,
you know, loving, caring.
I want to make sure
my family is good.
I want to make sure
my family is good.
Make sure my friends is good.
Make sure the people around me,
my close ones
are taken care of.
And that's all
that really matters to me.
Russell's very
much a routine person.
But with kids you can't really
have too much of a routine,
But with kids you can't really
have too much of a routine,
depending on how present
you want to be.
And Russell wants
to be very present.
So he shifted everything.
It's like, okay, so
now I have to do what's best
for the kids and the family.
You go pee pee in the potty?
Pee pee in the...
Good job, Jo-Jo. My daughters
has taught me how to love more.
As a father,
when you have girls,
I think it's just natural.
Cash! I just made it.
You got to get the rebound.
And my son has taught me
patience on all levels.
Both arms.
-[yells]
-You'll be all right.
-[yells]
-You'll be all right.
Did you let him go by himself?
Um, um...
No, no.
He didn't go by himself.
INTERVIEWER: His life's
going to be very different
than yours growing up.
Do you think about that?
All the time,
but I think about it
in a positive way.
but I think about it
in a positive way.
Woohoo!
-I did it.
-You did it, buddy.
The different things
that my dad went through,
he didn't want
to see me go through.
I've been blessed and
thankful do be in this position
and have the means to
be able to do the things
that I want to do.
My job is to make sure,
and my wife's job is
to make sure, that we...
raise our kids the best way
that we can raise them
and make sure they understand
that this wasn't just given
to us, it was--
that this wasn't just given
to us, it was--
you had to work for it and make
sure they understand that.
you had to work for it and make
sure they understand that.
Basketball, it's going to be
a short time in my life,
Basketball, it's going to be
a short time in my life,
but during that short time
I'd like to take advantage
of each and every opportunity
that's given to me.
[music shuffling]
[music shuffling]
[hip hop music]
[hip hop music]
[pinball dropping]
[pinball dropping]
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
You better move,
you better move
Come on!
[Indistinct].
Being at home and resting
and hanging out, that's my jam.
For Russell,
I don't think he realizes
how much it's not his.
I think he enjoys
spending time with us
and the kids and his family,
but I could see him getting
antsy and ready to work out
but I could see him getting
antsy and ready to work out
and started picking up how many
times a day he was working out,
and started picking up how many
times a day he was working out,
and so I think that
he's really happy now.
No, you can't cuff me,
baby let me loose
The way that I live,
baby, that's a ruse
The way that I live,
baby, that's a ruse
When I'm at home,
I don't have to pound my chest,
jump up and down and scream,
I can turn it down
a little bit.
But at the same time,
I still have my edge.
[sneakers squeaking]
I won!
And basketball, you're able
to express and scream and yell.
And basketball, you're able
to express and scream and yell.
All these emotions come up.
He's just on a hundred all the
time when he's on the floor.
He just becomes that
larger than life personality
He just becomes that
larger than life personality
and character, and that escape
allows him to have
and character, and that escape
allows him to have
all that energy
there on the court
Finished. Fuck you.
In my early years in Oklahoma
City, I had so much going on.
In my early years in Oklahoma
City, I had so much going on.
All this shit is happening
in your brain and around you.
All this shit is happening
in your brain and around you.
I had to figure out
how to channel it.
Had to figure out
how to use it.
REPORTER: There is so much
unknown here for these players.
REPORTER: There is so much
unknown here for these players.
COMMENTATOR: I think as far
as the racial injustice,
I think that's where
a lot of the struggle is
for a lot of athletes,
and a lot of our hearts
are with our people.
No justice, no peace!
Listen, it's not
an ideal situation.
We're trying to find a way
to our own normal
in the middle of a pandemic,
and now with
enormous social unrest.
Really what's being
asked of these players now,
help us get back to the normal
that we've enjoyed,
largely at your expense.
As we work through
these issues,
I can understand
how some players may feel
that it's not for them.
I mean, it will entail
enormous sacrifice.
[ball bouncing]
Hey!
REPORTER: The NBA season
is set to resume July 31st
in Orlando, Florida.
Unfortunate timing.
COVID-19 cases
continue to mount
COVID-19 cases
continue to mount
in the state of Florida
at an alarming rate.
[lights click]
I was used to him
leaving every couple of days
and then coming back,
but I'm definitely not excited
about him being gone
but I'm definitely not excited
about him being gone
for the remainder
of the season.
I think it's crazy, actually,
and I'm not as supportive.
But I don't want
to further upset him,
so I voice
my opinions sparingly,
because I already know
it's hard for him, so.
because I already know
it's hard for him, so.
I want to go on
the airplane too.
I wanna come after breakfast.
I know. You can't come
with me this time, buddy.
Daddy got to go
play basketball.
You can watch me on TV.
I have no idea
what's going to happen.
I'm nervous about COVID.
I'm nervous about how
you know, all the guys are
gonna just be gone for so long.
Noah, you want to take a break?
Come give daddy
a hug before I go bye-bye?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
Big squeeze. Big squeeze.
[inaudible]
I want a big squeeze, that's
why. Can I get a big squeeze?
[baby crying]
[kids crying]
[kids crying]
I'll miss you. I love you.
Sugar, are you ready?
Yeah.
Are you excited?
Am I excited to do what?
NINA:
To see all your teammates.
I'm gonna be with them
for three months.
NINA: So, you're
not excited to see them?
I don't mind seeing them,
but, you know, I'm not like...
I don't mind seeing them,
but, you know, I'm not like...
jumping up and down, and shit.
You're not very excited.
Just a little excited.
I feel like we were forced
to grow up very quickly,
so a lot of the things that
most people might not
think about
or worry about at age 19,
we had to think
about those things.
Especially Russell.
He's constantly been someone
that needed to have boundaries
He's constantly been someone
that needed to have boundaries
and have his walls up,
so that, in turn, I feel like,
and have his walls up,
so that, in turn, I feel like,
made him shift
and change his focus inward
with his close circle.
Are you at least
going to miss us?
I know you see us
all the time, but...
Go.
-Oh, my gosh.
-You drive--
You talk about the people
on the freeway, you the one!
Why are you in such
a hurry to get rid of me?
Don't you want
to cherish our time together?
Depends.
Of course. Of course, I do.
Okay, good.
You better change your tone.
Better yet, actually,
take your time. No rush.
Thank you. You better change
your tone, that's for sure.
Thank you. You better change
your tone, that's for sure.
My wife, she is, one word...
My wife, she is, one word...
Selfless.
She's sacrificed more than
anybody that I know because of
anybody that I know because of
the basketball life I'm in.
Hi, I'm here to drop off...
She sacrificed her goals that
she wanted to do to be able to
She sacrificed her goals that
she wanted to do to be able to
share my dream, and for me,
I never ever
take that for granted.
She's my personal driver.
You know what, next time,
guess what you're going to do,
you're going to take an Uber.
Clearly
I'm better than an Uber.
I can't hear you,
the plane is too loud.
Bye.
I want to make it
known to her that
I want to make it
known to her that
her sacrifices are
well worth it for our family,
and I want to make sure
that I do
everything in my power
to make sure that
I'm the best at what I do.
REPORTER: First, how eager are
you to get back on the court
with your teammates
and get back to playing
after such a long layoff?
RUSSELL: Man, very eager.
I'd be lying
if I wouldn't say I was.
I'd be lying
if I wouldn't say I was.
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
The thrill I get off competing,
to me, it's unmatched.
The thrill I get off competing,
to me, it's unmatched.
We live for those moments.
We live for them.
We live for those moments.
We live for them.
There ain't no bigger fan
of Russell Westbrook than me.
This dude is an assassin.
One of the most violently
competitive basketball players
in the National
Basketball Association.
He doesn't cheat you,
never with effort
and never with greatness.
Here's the question,
you going to win?
COMMENTATOR: We hold Westbrook
to a very high standard,
because we see the talent.
My attitude never changes.
It never will.
My attitude never changes.
It never will.
I'm just playing my ass off
and leaving everything
I got on the floor,
not taking a night off,
a play off,
not taking a game for granted.
I just go all out.
And I think, for me,
it's become my biggest strength
and my biggest weakness,
it's become my biggest strength
and my biggest weakness,
because at times
it could look reckless,
it can look out of control,
it can look...
like I don't know
what I'm doing.
It can look selfish.
COMMENTATOR: There it is,
the pull up.
And Westbrook one for five.
He's taken half of
the shots so far.
I think there is consequence
sometimes to feeling like,
I can do it alone.
I can make the play.
I can be Superman
in this moment.
And I think he learned that
as his career went on.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook
out of control. Turns it over.
To try to bring that back
a little bit has been, I think,
one of the things he's been
working on his entire career,
trying to control
that level of fire,
and that level of intensity.
and that level of intensity.
But it's hard because
when he's in his mindset,
when he's going full steam
ahead, he only knows one way.
I think it's a feeling, a mode,
that he's got to balance,
right, because in games where
he'll try
to get people involved,
he will all of
a sudden feel like,
"I'm losing my Russness."
Without that, he's not Russ,
and we're not that team.
There are games
where I'm all over the place
and it may not be so good.
COMMENTATOR: That won't go.
Westbrook out of control.
COMMENTATOR: That won't go.
Westbrook out of control.
Westbrook really struggling.
That's another turnover.
But, there are games
where I'm all over the place
and it's the best thing
that ever happened.
and it's the best thing
that ever happened.
COMMENTATOR: Explosive speed
is not diminished.
I have so much pride
in wanting to see,
in wanting to be successful,
in wanting to be the best,
in wanting to be successful,
in wanting to be the best,
sometimes it takes
control of me,
but it all comes
from a great place.
COMMENTATOR: LeBron James and
the Lakers one win away from
COMMENTATOR: LeBron James and
the Lakers one win away from
getting back to
the Conference Finals,
as they've won the last
three games in this series
and have a 3-1 lead
as we get set for game five.
and have a 3-1 lead
as we get set for game five.
I don't want to come off
as like an alkie
or anything like that,
but I know how
to make a martini.
COMMENTATOR: The Lakers were
so impressive in game four,
the Rockets just the opposite.
It was
a disappointing performance.
James Harden
only had 21 points.
But another guy that's got to
be better is Russell Westbrook.
He's got to be better
for this team to survive,
and it starts with tonight.
Even though he's playing,
he's a little bit injured,
he doesn't like to talk
about it and make it a thing,
because he doesn't like
people feeling sorry for him,
or whatever the case may be.
But he's still
struggling with that.
I'm just been hoping
he can get in a rhythm
I'm just been hoping
he can get in a rhythm
and just have fun. I think
that's when he's at his best.
COMMENTATOR: The last time
Westbrook and James
were in Miami, and they were
going into the locker room...
MAN: I knew they was going
to bring that up. Got to.
MAN: I knew they was going
to bring that up. Got to.
COMMENTATOR: They'll be back.
They'll win championships.
The players sometimes are
the last ones to understand...
He's still at the peak
of his career in the NBA.
He's still at the peak
of his career in the NBA.
Take one game at a time.
That's all we can do.
Take one game at a time.
That's all we can do.
Come on, Russ. Move.
Man.
Russ ain't scoring.
I ain't worried
about his scoring.
I'm talking about scoring.
I'm talking about
everything, though.
He got to do everything,
and he know that.
Just do that other stuff.
You have games like this.
This is the NBA.
If you're not a superstar,
you can't have
a game like this.
So he's a superstar player.
He knows how to come back
and bounce back
and help his team win.
You gotta do better, homie.
Way better.
Do something, bro.
Basketball is an up and
down game. It's about rhythm.
Basketball is an up and
down game. It's about rhythm.
We didn't have enough rhythm,
and my son was
a part of that rhythm.
His rhythm was
a little off today, so...
His rhythm was
a little off today, so...
I think he's okay.
I just think he just needs
to find himself again,
and once he find himself,
he'll be okay.
COMMENTATOR: Now the Rockets
will just dribble it out
and the Los Angeles Lakers
are back in the Western
Conference Finals as they
eliminate the Houston Rockets
in five games.
And the final score
for tonight's game...
[static]
[static]
[light piano music]
[light piano music]
MAN: Its being reported
that Russ wants out of Houston
MAN: Its being reported
that Russ wants out of Houston
because he wants a bigger role.
COMMENTATOR:
He's a force of nature,
but he needs the ball and
he needs to be the lead dog,
and if he can't be lead dog...
SECOND COMMENTATOR:
Russell Westbrook, at times,
is the reason why
his team doesn't win.
COMMENTATOR: There's
no way he's gonna win a ring.
I'm not even
sure what his future in
this league is right now.
COMMENTATOR: I don't
see him as a missing piece
of a championship team.
COMMENTATOR: I think
he plays in a tunnel that,
"This is what I do
and I'm gonna do it
and I'm not gonna change it."
COMMENTATOR: That kind
of embrace me personality.
[commentators
talking over each other]
[commentators
talking over each other]
RUSSELL: I still play with
the same edge, the same rage,
RUSSELL: I still play with
the same edge, the same rage,
but internally I am at
a place of peace because
but internally I am at
a place of peace because
I understand there are
so many more
important things in life.
INTERVIEWER: Do you think
you're a better player now
INTERVIEWER: Do you think
you're a better player now
that you have
this peace inside of you?
I'm a better person, and that's
what's most important to me.
The player is...
people are going to scrutinize,
The player is...
people are going to scrutinize,
they're going to love,
they're going to hate,
but the person is
who I'm more concerned with
and that's me being myself.
And there are times where
I felt like I was losing that
because I was trying so hard
to prove everybody wrong.
And now I'm in a position
and a space in my mind
where mentally
I don't need to do that.
COMMENTATOR: Let's go through
the monster deal
from the NBA last night,
the Rockets and the Wizards.
from the NBA last night,
the Rockets and the Wizards.
Next time somebody touch my go,
that's going to be
their you know what.
Here we go, come on. Now.
Move! Move!
Oh, shit!
[speaking indistinctly]
I'm happy to be back
with Coach Brooks.
Him being my, I would say,
first second coach,
he kind of seen me grow up
in Oklahoma City.
We've always stayed tight.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
One thing that I always
remember from Coach Brooks that
One thing that I always
remember from Coach Brooks that
been sticking with me since...
day one of him taking over
is that we had
conversations about
how angry
and how intense I was.
[shouting]
[shouting]
How he felt like I was so
uptight and wanted to win
How he felt like I was so
uptight and wanted to win
so, so bad.
He always told me...
so, so bad.
He always told me...
to smile. Very simple.
To this day, that's something
that I catch myself doing,
just taking a second to, okay,
let's just smile a little bit
just taking a second to, okay,
let's just smile a little bit
just to calm my ass down.
COMMENTATOR: This is
all improvisation by Russell.
I don't hear
any music playing, Kenny.
Obviously he hears
a different drummer.
Keeps the game fun, and
you always want to make sure
you're having
fun while playing.
Obviously, you want
to win, you want to compete,
but you want
to have fun while doing it.
COMMENTATOR: You look
at his numbers, Clyde,
his 151 career triple doubles.
He has five this season
with the Wizards.
He has five this season
with the Wizards.
SECOND COMMENTATOR:
The way he's playing right now,
and this run that he's had
down the stretch,
he could go for now
the record by Oscar Robinson
for the most triple doubles
in NBA history.
If anybody says they saw
this coming, they're lying.
Ain't nobody saw this coming.
I mean, he makes
triple doubles like
I mean, he makes
triple doubles like
it's like a regular stat.
When I had
my first triple double,
I think I had
my family dinners and parties
and it was like a big thing.
You know what I'm saying?
So he does this,
like, every single game.
MAN: I'm just glad
we didn't go into overtime
because Russell was about
to get quadruple double.
Teams are game planning
for him every single night
and he's still getting it done,
and to do it night in
and night out and
average it for a whole season,
and night out and
average it for a whole season,
and then do it again,
and break all time records
and continue to set
all time records,
I think it blows
a lot of people's minds.
COMMENTATOR: And there it is,
Russell Westbrook
has just surpassed
Oscar Robertson.
has just surpassed
Oscar Robertson.
It lasted 47 years,
and now Russell Westbrook
stands there all alone.
I mean, 182. I had five.
I had five in my career.
[cheering]
He relentless.
That's it. He relentless.
COMMENTATOR: How do we put him
into some sort of
historical perspective?
MAN: You can no longer
tell the story of basketball
MAN: You can no longer
tell the story of basketball
-without Russel Westbrook.
-Without including Russel.
-That's right.
-He is Mr. Triple Double,
and that will be his legacy.
Even if he goes on
to win a ring,
he will still be more known
for averaging a triple double
he will still be more known
for averaging a triple double
in four seasons,
than for winning
a championship.
It's really hard to
win a championship.
I've been to four finals,
and we won one. It gets tough.
But I do think legacy-wise,
it means a lot to people,
but it's not what defines
Russell Westbrook.
Russell has been able
to do things
that are historic
in the game of basketball.
And we all teach kids
when you play,
how can you impact the game?
And most kids just think, I can
impact the game by scoring.
And most kids just think, I can
impact the game by scoring.
I think there
should be more players
that have well-rounded games.
He can definitely leave
the game with his head high
and be counted as one of
the greatest guards
and be counted as one of
the greatest guards
that ever played.
How could you not,
when you're mentioned
with Oscar Robinson, right?
That MVP thing,
they can't take it away.
That MVP thing,
they can't take it away.
Say what
they want to about you,
but they cannot take it away.
This ring he give me, this
is his first championship ring
in the Olympics.
I still wear it every day.
Every day.
Because it reminds me of
what he did, how he did it.
MAN: He inspires so many
kids who come from
where he comes from.
If he could do it,
then I could do it.
We proud of him around here,
whether he win one or not.
[city din]
[city din]
COMMENTATOR: Draft night
just got a lot more exciting.
Russell Westbrook
is going to be a Laker.
For a Southern California kid,
this is a dream come true.
To go back,
play for the Lakers,
and now partner up with
Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
What do you mean?
Okay, whatever. That's what.
Okay, whatever. That's what.
NINA: I'm going to celebrate
and it's going to be wild.
INTERVIEWER:
You seem kind of in disbelief.
He gets into these zones.
It's funny.
He gets into these zones.
It's funny.
When he gets his mind
set on something...
When he gets his mind
set on something...
Laker Nation need to stand up
right now. You know why?
Laker Nation need to stand up
right now. You know why?
Because they're moving on up
like the Jeffersons right now.
Because they're moving on up
like the Jeffersons right now.
I'm telling you.
It's a crazy feeling. I was
just trying to figure out...
everything, being back home.
But the only thing
I can think about is, like,
growing up in LA,
watching the Lakers,
growing up in LA,
watching the Lakers,
Kobe. That's the first thing
that came to mind, honestly.
Kobe. That's the first thing
that came to mind, honestly.
All those memories and all
those things come back to play
and come back full circle. It's
just opportunity in itself.
Obviously
it's big for everybody else,
but just internally, for myself
and our family,
we just very grateful.
It'll be crazy though.
REPORTER:
Russell, do you feel like
you have anything to prove?
Uh, no, I don't.
When I got drafted, that was
me proving people wrong.
When I was able to go
to UCLA from the inner city,
When I was able to go
to UCLA from the inner city,
that was me
proving people wrong.
Just making it out the hood,
was proving people wrong.
I don't need
to do that anymore.
He's at a point in his life
right now to where
it doesn't even matter
what people think.
No one's perfect.
No one's perfect.
You're doing a great job.
Continue to do it.
For all that's gone on
in his life up to this point,
he's still able to maintain
not only a sense of peace,
but an understanding
of who he is.
Being yourself is
the best thing you can do,
because there are
so many things
that can be said about you that
you can let
take control of your life,
and I feel like when
you're authentic,
those things can't bother you.
Things that people say
or do doesn't affect you.
What you see
is what you get with Russell.
There's no sugar-coating.
There's no gimmicks.
He's not trying to pretend.
He's not trying
to please anyone.
This is who he is.
Russell going to play his game
how he want to play it,
and the NBA know and all
the players know on every team.
There's no time where
nobody can see me as like,
"Russ is being...
Russ is being...
Russ." And that's...
how my whole
either career and my life is,
because there's really nobody
to compare, in my opinion.
because there's really nobody
to compare, in my opinion.
You can't really say,
"Russ is being like. uh...
You can't really say,
"Russ is being like. uh...
Russ," and that's just
how I like to keep it.
Russ," and that's just
how I like to keep it.
Cool.
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music]
Let me apologize to Russell
Westbrook, because
Let me apologize to Russell
Westbrook, because
in game four he was
off the charts. 43 points.
in game four he was
off the charts. 43 points.
He put on a show.
I see now that he has
to play this way, Michael,
for the Thunder
to have a chance to win.
So stay with playing that
aggressive, offensive game.
He's not
a traditional point guard.
Just do your thing, Russell.
Don't listen to Magic Johnson.
They go that yard.
They said, "You know what?
I'm going to come at your head
every opportunity I get."
"The most athletic point guard
any of us has ever seen."
Height of egomania.
When I watch Russell Westbrook,
I go from
the best player who ever lived,
to the next play,
you can't win
a championship with this guy.
He's a pit bull,
and you can't tell
a pit bull to be a chihuahua.
He is the convertible
sports car of the NBA.
He's glamorous.
He's sexy. He's iPod.
He is pure evil.
He is ferocious.
He will take you out.
[static flourish]
[child babbling]
[child babbling]
Come here. You better
not be running in the house.
Come here. You better
not be running in the house.
What's up, man?
Huh?
I run too fast.
You ran too fast?
Yeah. I ran too far.
You going to come watch the
game tonight, watch daddy play?
I might get go in the game.
Okay. Yeah,
we're going to go to the game.
You going to hang with nana and
papa, and I'll see you later?
Okay. All right. High five.
You ready, bro?
You've been crying?
You going to cry.
He ain't gone cry.
[ambient chatter]
[crowds cheering]
I think people...
don't really
understand who I am.
And a lot of that is
because of what
I let people see
and what I don't let them see.
[man] They're all here for you.
[man] They're all here for you.
Oh no. It's just a few people.
That's cool. Ain't that long.
Oh no. It's just a few people.
That's cool. Ain't that long.
They're waiting for the bus.
They're waiting for you.
I think in the sports world,
I am the bad guy.
I think in the sports world,
I am the bad guy.
I am the guy that's easy
target because of
the way I play the game,
with a passion and emotion.
Westbrook sees an opening
and throws it down.
There's that
nuclear athleticism
of Russell Westbrook.
The way I compete,
I think I'm an easy target
to be able to throw shit on.
[crowd cheering]
The lob. Westbrook! Oh, my.
He's his own worst enemy.
He wants it too much.
He plays too hard.
He tries too hard.
He plays too hard.
He tries too hard.
To other people, the normal
person on the street,
I could be an asshole
because of what they hear,
and what they see.
REPORTER: Are you upset
with something?
I just don't like you.
He's volatile.
Westbrook's arguing
with fans, children,
media, coaches, rivals.
Nobody wants to play with Russ.
Early in my career, there were
a lot of made up narratives,
Early in my career, there were
a lot of made up narratives,
a lot of negative things said
about my character, who I was.
a lot of negative things said
about my character, who I was.
And that was fuel for me
to be able to be the best.
And that was fuel for me
to be able to be the best.
I know who I am.
And I understand
what I bring and understand...
what I do.
I'm Russell.
Sometimes my emotions
can take control of me,
but I think when you're
authentic to who you are,
everything else
will fall in place.
["Grinding All My Life"
by Nipsey Hussle]
[whistles blaring]
All my life,
been grindin' all my life
Sacrificed,
hustle paid the price
Want a slice?
Got to roll the dice
That's why, all my life,
I been grindin' all my life
Legendary baller,
like Mike, like Wilt
I say self made,
meanin' I designed myself
All my life,
been grindin' all my life
[static]
[static]
[crowds cheering]
[crowds cheering]
-[whistles blaring]
-ANNOUNCER: The game ends.
The Lakers have won it, again.
[cheering]
[crowds hooting]
And the world champions
are the Lakers.
I come from a place
where I ain't never
even think about the NBA.
I didn't think about
nothing about
making it to the pros.
[police sirens blaring]
[police sirens blaring]
REPORTER: This is Los Angeles,
a city with many claims
on America, including this one.
It is now the gang capital
of the nation.
It is now the gang capital
of the nation.
A lot of people don't
make it where I'm from.
A lot of people don't
live past 20-25 years old,
where I come from.
REPORTER: Police and residents
here link the shooting spree
to an ongoing turf war
between rival drug gangs.
Get over here.
Let me see your hands.
Get your hands on your head.
Showtime!
It's simple.
You grow up in the inner city.
You gang bang. You sell drugs.
Those come hand and foot.
So, I did that.
REPORTER: Why do the youngsters
in these neighborhoods
continue to join up?
They're a symptom of
a lot of root problems like
poverty
and dysfunctional families.
poverty
and dysfunctional families.
Ninety percent
of my friends was in it.
So, you pick up those habits.
And you pick up those habits
and okay, now you learn.
You go to prison
and you will learn.
I was about 25,
stayed three and a half.
And I always said to myself,
"If I'd ever have any kids,
they're going to do better."
Simple as that.
[funky twanging]
Growing up in LA
really shaped me
to who I am today.
really shaped me
to who I am today.
And I think that's
a huge part of
And I think that's
a huge part of
where I get a lot of
my emotions and passion from.
-What's up, bro?
-What's the deal, yo?
What's up, buddy?
-How you doing, man?
-Calling it.
Appreciate it, bro. Yes, sir.
Hey, Russel!
What's up, baby?
All right, bro? Yes, sir.
Aw, oh, thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Appreciate it.
We had some
fun times over here.
-13643, Moly Avenue.
-The Moly Avenue.
Apartment 212.
Yeah, this street
was always quiet.
It really wasn't
a loud type of street.
It really wasn't
a loud type of street.
It was just quiet all the time.
You could catch people
walking to the store
and bringing their kids.
Well, it wasn't
quiet all the time.
Yeah. It wasn't quiet
all the time. Not all the time.
It's Sunday right now. Yeah,
you're right. That's right.
That's a police badge
right there.
Yeah, that'll show you
right there it ain't quiet.
Yeah, that'll show you
right there it ain't quiet.
I'm pretty sure those days
my dad went through that,
he made sure I didn't
have to go through with it.
Wasn't in gangs
or street violence.
And that's something
that I stayed away from.
I was shy when I was younger.
I was a shy kid,
and kinda stayed to myself.
He never was the type to be
around a whole bunch of people.
He kept his circle real small.
He's a kid, man. You know?
He pretty much wanted
to do his own thing.
Never been a follower.
He was always smart.
I was a good student
when I was younger.
I was an honor roll student
and that's
something that I wanted to do
not for myself, but
to set example for my brother.
Yeah, me and my brother,
we're two years apart.
He's my best friend,
my road dog, my ACE,
He's my best friend,
my road dog, my ACE,
whatever you want to call it.
That's my go-to guy.
He stays on my ass,
but that's cool. I like that.
And my parents always
emphasized that to me,
that your
brother's always watching.
And I felt like it was
my duty to be and make sure
that I set the tone.
He told on me a lot too,
so I guess you could
say he was a snitch, too.
Whatever. Just being honest.
You know me. But...
Well, this used
to be it right here.
[clapping] Hike one, hike two.
Hike one, hike two?
-Ain't nobody saying that, man.
-Ain't nobody saying that?
No. You used to run up
and down here, Russ.
Crack people, boy.
You grow up in
a gang environment,
that don't mean
you have to go that way.
You still have your own choice
of what you want to do.
You still have your own choice
of what you want to do.
Football was my first love,
I would say,
just in sports, in general.
I like contact
and wanted to hit.
And I wanted to be in the mix
and go fuck somebody up.
That simple.
He was
the skinniest kid out there.
But when he get in them lines,
he becomes just
this enormous person.
he becomes just
this enormous person.
Once they start playing
football, I'd give them a name.
Once they start playing
football, I'd give them a name.
Hawk was Rey.
The Warrior was Russell.
One, two, three, oh boy.
Watch out, watch out!
Watch out!
-Watch out!
-Got to the tree.
Got to the tree.
Oy, watch out.
That's what I do.
That's what I do.
See that right there?
That's what I do.
It's what I do.
That's what I do.
Was he emotional and passionate
like that as a kid?
-No?
-No. He didn't show
any expression.
For a kid to have four tubs
and everybody in the stadium
is yelling your name, and...
no response.
It was serious,
serious with him.
It was serious,
serious with him.
He didn't laugh.
He didn't giggle.
He didn't clown off.
He didn't brag.
After the game,
he would go sit in the stands
while all the other kids
was running around the field.
He wouldn't celebrate.
When he was younger,
he was more focused on
getting out there, giving
110% and winning that game.
getting out there, giving
110% and winning that game.
Now, if we bombed now,
he would be sad if we lost,
it bothered him if we lost.
Now, that
is always been in him.
He hates losing.
Basketball entered the picture
for me around the same time.
RUSSELL:
I just was doing it for fun,
keep the sports flowing,
keep me active,
keep me out of trouble,
honestly.
He just seemed like
he was a competitive young man.
He just seemed like
he was a competitive young man.
Played hard, like all
the other kids on my team.
But I'm not going to say
and say, "Oh, he was destined.
I knew he was going to the
NBA." No, I did not see that.
If Russell
put up a shot or three,
it would be like,
"Oh no, don't do it."
I wouldn't want him to shoot.
Russell was little.
So, what was instilled in him
was outplay your opponent,
outlast your opponent,
by running hard,
playing defense hard.
Play non-stop,
Play non-stop,
both sides of the court,
no matter what.
His first coach,
Reggie Hamilton, he said,
"Can I yell at him?
It seemed like
that makes him go,
when you yell at him."
Because I'd be on
the side like,
"Russell, let's go, let's go.
Let's go, Warrior. Let's go."
His dad always kept it real
with his son, with Russell.
He never sugar-coated anything.
He was very firm,
very aggressive
in how he talked to him.
I used to keep stats
for both my kids.
And I think that was
motivational for him
to come home and say,
"Daddy, what'd I do?"
to come home and say,
"Daddy, what'd I do?"
My dad always pushed me
to be the best I can be,
My dad always pushed me
to be the best I can be,
not just telling me
to do things,
but talking me through
and giving me an explanation on
why he thought this is
what I should be doing,
on why he thought
this was best for my brother,
on why he thought
this was best for my brother,
or why he thought
this was best for me.
His mom was always there.
Always there.
He was kind of like
a mama's boy.
If I needed something
out of Russ,
all I had to do was go
to Shannon and it was a wrap.
all I had to do was go
to Shannon and it was a wrap.
All of the kids
didn't have that.
All kids don't have
that foundation
to allow them
to pursue their dreams.
to allow them
to pursue their dreams.
You want to be
a father that's there
because you know
what happened to you,
what could have
happened to you.
There was one incident where
one gang went
to fight another gang.
I come down there,
and I'm like,
"What are
you guys fighting for?
Y'all know each other."
They go, "Yeah, Russell,
you right, big homie.
You right. Blah blah blah."
But one of my friends,
that's maybe about
five years younger than me,
but he looked up to me,
I shook his hand, dapped him,
told him I love him.
He said,
"I love you too, big homie."
All you hear is a pop pop.
By the time I let go of
his hand and turned this way,
turn back,
I'm watching you fall.
So, I go up there
the next day and I
look at the house behind me.
I knock on the lady door
and say, "Three bullets
came right here."
Now, that's directly behind me.
And that
is a changing point in my life.
Believe me, that right there.
It's just God, bro.
It brings tears to my eyes
every time I bring it up.
It brings tears to my eyes
every time I bring it up.
And bro, it really do.
It really do because
I could have been gone.
They could have
been without a daddy.
My first year of high school,
I kind of messed up.
My dad, he told me to make sure
I try out for the varsity team.
My dad, he told me to make sure
I try out for the varsity team.
And I didn't listen.
I went and only tried out
for the freshman team.
I'm 14 at the time,
going to a new school
I'm 14 at the time,
going to a new school
and basically said,
"I'm going to just
try to take the easy way out."
And I made the freshman team.
And then when I got home,
he was asking me,
And then when I got home,
he was asking me,
"How the trials go?"
I said, "It went great.
I'm on the freshman team."
He's like, "The freshmen team?
What do you mean
the freshman team?"
I was like, "That's what
I made. The freshman team."
He said, "Did you try out
for varsity?" I was like, "No."
So, he was pissed.
He was upset,
basically in his own words
telling me "That ain't
going to get you through life.
That's not going to cut it."
The things that
I wanted to do, I didn't do.
So, how do you get
your children to do it?
You make them
not afraid of doing it.
You make them
not afraid of doing it.
Fear no one.
My dad told me that
when I was young kid.
Fear no man but God.
This means
you ain't scared of nobody.
You fear no man, but God.
You don't even fear your dad.
So, you take that.
Anything that you do in life,
you take that, so you fearless.
[static]
Big daddy is in the house!
Hold up, Russell Westbrook,
number four,
has entered the building.
When you're looking at
high school basketball players,
the ones that are usually
the most physically gifted
are the ones
who are best at early ages.
The guys who are the biggest,
the strongest, the fastest.
The guys who are the biggest,
the strongest, the fastest.
But where Russell stood apart
was the intangibles of
But where Russell stood apart
was the intangibles of
being smart and also being
just tenacious and competitive.
being smart and also being
just tenacious and competitive.
Russell's a real laid back
and relaxed guy.
But when he steps onto to the
floor and he starts playing,
another attitude or
another mind state comes in,
another attitude or
another mind state comes in,
and that's what
being a competitor is.
and that's what
being a competitor is.
I don't like losing.
I don't like being the second.
Always want to be at the top.
I don't want to be at,
in the middle
or the bottom average.
I just want to always
be the top and
just try to strive
for the best.
He was, like,
extremely physical
with the kids that were
way bigger and way older.
And he went right at them.
And you could just tell,
he was going to be
tenacious and always have
a chip on his shoulder.
REPORTER:
Westbrook's teammates agree
that his alter ego appears
as soon as his feet
hit the hardwood.
We call him
Mighty Russ or whatever,
because when he be
in the game or whatever,
or even when we practice,
when he get the ball,
it's like it's go time.
It's go time.
ANNOUNCER:
Pressure, with the-- Whoa!
He always took chances
in high school
and sometimes,
Coach Morris would
pull them out the game because
he was taking too many chances.
But a lot of
the chances paid off.
ANNOUNCER: And the
bucket on the pass off
to Russell Westbrook,
sophomore.
He had something that
he was driving for.
He had something that
he was driving for.
You say, "Well,
where did that come from?"
That is a part of Khelcey.
Khelcey was that same attitude.
Khelcey,
my childhood friend that
grew up right across
the street from me,
an amazing basketball player.
an amazing basketball player.
One of my best
friends growing up.
Khelcey Barrs was 6'6"
in the ninth grade,
had lots of physical gifts
and attributes.
ANNOUNCER: For Barrs,
it's an offensive rebound.
And it will count.
And he is fouled.
Khelcey Barrs
with the put back.
Khelcey Barrs
with the put back.
He was the whole package.
He could shoot, dunk.
Woohoo!
Beautiful, beautiful.
Khelcey and Russell had
a special relationship.
They were like brothers,
kinda in a way.
ANNOUNCER: Going to
go with Khelcey Barrs
and they will
simply tip it up again.
And we will get underway.
Him and Russell had similar
qualities as far as
competitive nature and just
who they are as a person.
Khelcey had
very ferocious dunks.
He was very loud
and aggressive.
ANNOUNCER: Khelcey Barrs!
[Reggie] They always went at
each other, always competing.
When both of them were
playing at the same time,
they was like Kobe and Shaq.
And we'd sit there
and watch them be dominant.
ANNOUNCER: Being recognized
by every basketball authority
in Southern California as
one of the premier players.
in Southern California as
one of the premier players.
His sophomore year,
he was becoming
a nationally known player.
UCLA, all the big schools
reached out to him.
He was somebody
that immediately,
we all thought,
he was going to the NBA.
He would for sure
go to the NBA.
PRODUCER: He was
that much better than you?
He was that much better
than everybody.
ANNOUNCER: Khelcey Barrs.
[cheering]
[cheering]
After the season was over,
we used to go play
pickup basketball
at LA Southwest College.
May 11th, 2004,
we took Khelcey over.
May 11th, 2004,
we took Khelcey over.
Russell was there also,
a few other teammates.
Russell was there also,
a few other teammates.
You playing against college
guys, junior college guys.
We were winning
every single game.
Khelcey stood out.
That was as good
a day that he'd ever had
and everything was normal.
He was cracking jokes.
and everything was normal.
He was cracking jokes.
And all of a sudden,
he fell back
and his eyes rolled
to the back of his head.
Tried to sit up
and he looked around,
Tried to sit up
and he looked around,
then all of a sudden
just went back to the floor.
then all of a sudden
just went back to the floor.
From there, the paramedics came
and rushed him to the hospital.
From there, the paramedics came
and rushed him to the hospital.
But they pronounced
him dead shortly after.
So...
REPORTER:
He was fast becoming one of
the best basketball players
in the country
but tonight,
Khelcey Barrs is dead
after collapsing on the court.
The sudden death of
the Southern California
high school star has
stunned family and friends.
I just remember sitting
in my living room,
just staring and crying
and sitting on the floor,
kind of having
this numb feeling of,
how could this happen?
You could see, uh...
You could see, uh...
his-- my son's
expression on his face.
his-- my son's
expression on his face.
My son broke down.
He broke down.
He broke down for a while.
Just 16 years old, a
very promising basketball star.
Just 16 years old, a
very promising basketball star.
Colleges were already
looking at him.
And even
some people in the NBA.
We still don't know
the cause of his death
but his family
and friends are mourning.
He had an enlarged heart.
It was something that
maybe could have been caught,
but it wasn't.
He was young.
So, you get these questions
that need to be answered.
So, you get these questions
that need to be answered.
I was confused on
why it happened
I was confused on
why it happened
and how it happened.
And when it happened.
He lost a bit of,
probably innocence that day,
just like the rest of us did,
knowing that somebody could be
with you, and then at the very
next moment, they're not there.
And you've got to give it
all that you have because
who knows what's going
to be taken from you?
Two years ago,
we were here with Khelcey.
Two years ago,
we were here with Khelcey.
Last game of the year.
You got to play it like
you don't have any more left.
He's supposed to be
here with us now.
It changed him a lot,
put him in a different space
that you could be here today
and gone tomorrow.
that you could be here today
and gone tomorrow.
[cheering]
ANNOUNCER: Let's see
how they start up
after that long intermission
for the retirement ceremony.
Well, that's
a good way to start,
with Westbrook
shooting the ball.
He kind of turned it up a notch
He kind of turned it up a notch
on the court because he knew
how Khelcey wanted to play,
you know?
And he played
as if he was there.
ANNOUNCER:
Penetration by Westbrook.
And he leans in and scores.
He's supposed to be
going to college,
playing university games,
but they're gonna make it.
playing university games,
but they're gonna make it.
And I know
they're going to always
continue to play for Khelcey.
ANNOUNCER: What a move
by Westbrook for three!
Russell's junior year, he
became the MVP of our league.
Russell's junior year, he
became the MVP of our league.
Westbrook goes to the hole.
Westbrook puts it up and in.
Senior year was so special.
Just the way Russell played
was very similar
to how Khelcey played.
He was able to score.
He was able to defend
at a high level,
ANNOUNCER: Rebound pass
stolen by Westbrook.
Westbrook goes around.
He was putting up 30.
They didn't take him out,
he was killing.
He was killing.
ANNOUNCER: That's Westbrook
with the spin move.
He was doing
everything that day.
ANNOUNCER: Here he comes,
flying in with a slam dunk.
One of Russ' coaches
had me fill the score book.
And I'm there filling the score
book and they're saying 51.
And I'm there filling the score
book and they're saying 51.
I was like, "Yo, 51? All right.
-You talking about Kobe."
-Westbrook, Overbrandt,
come on, join us here
for a quick second.
Yeah. Come on.
Russell Westbrook.
Well, I was close.
Sorry about that.
What kind of thoughts does
the team have right now?
Well, we want to come
to practice tomorrow,
Well, we want to come
to practice tomorrow,
practice hard and try to
get this win on Thursday
so we have a good chance
of making the playoffs.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook
puts it up and in.
Count it.
I didn't know
what was going on.
I'm like, every time
we go through the mailbox.
Letters, letters,
posters of Russ,
the rings from
all these colleges.
I'm like,
"Yo, bro, this is crazy.
You about to make it."
I didn't want
to go far away from home.
I love being around my family
and I didn't want
to lose that connection.
And UCLA came at the last,
last possible moment.
It's crazy
how everything transpired
because everything
that happened for Russell
was what people
envisioned for Khelcey.
I just want to thank God
for giving me this opportunity.
And I think my mom,
my dad, my little brother,
my coach,
and all my family members
and friends for coming out,
and all my family members
and friends for coming out,
see me going to college.
It's just a crazy
turn of events, man,
because this is what
he wanted to do.
This is what we talked about.
I never imagined that
to be happening for me.
[Donnell] It was almost
like Khelcey's spirit
jumped into Russell.
For sure, he carries
his soul with him, 100%.
For sure, he carries
his soul with him, 100%.
Russell still
keeps him in his heart
and he keeps him in his hands,
keeps him in the ball
and his shoe.
PRODUCER:
Are you playing for him?
Definitely.
That's the reason
why he's on my shoes.
I write him on my shoes
every single game.
I wear a wristband every day,
on my chains, everywhere.
I...
make sure I honor him
in any way that I can,
every time I step on the floor,
because I know
he would have been...
because I know
he would have been...
right with me, right in the--
in the NBA for sure.
[static rustling]
[ambient chatter]
ANNOUNCER:
Westbrook takes it inside.
Big move by the freshman.
He's a good size, 6'3",
18 years of age.
He's a good size, 6'3",
18 years of age.
He was very raw.
You can't really see
his skillset right away.
You saw that he was a big
guard, he was athletic,
but no one saw
that he was going to be able
to put it together.
I was a late freshmen
and I was basically a walk on.
I was a last minute
kind of decision because
that position
was already filled.
I was just kind of there.
I didn't play much,
averaged about two
or three minutes of game.
I remember one practice, I
had made a move to the basket.
I remember one practice, I
had made a move to the basket.
And then he rises up and then
he swatted that thing so hard.
And then he rises up and then
he swatted that thing so hard.
He said,
"Get that-- out of here."
He said,
"Get that-- out of here."
The gym was quiet
because it was like,
okay, you just said that.
You did that to him.
That's when you kind of knew
that this is Russ.
You know what I mean?
That was his mentality.
He was going to compete
against anybody
and he was going to talk trash.
And every day in practice,
we would go at it.
And every day in practice,
we would go at it.
[cheering]
My first thought of him was,
he's incredibly determined.
He's so competitive
and no matter who we faced,
He's so competitive
and no matter who we faced,
he was going to give it
everything that he had.
I would see him on the other
side of the court stretching.
I'm stretching.
I'm looking like, all right,
yeah, this is about to go down.
And that's
the relationship that we had
And that's
the relationship that we had
and we knew it was
going to be intense.
ANNOUNCER:
That's going to do it.
We're going to have
this Florida team
looking for more history
on Monday night.
RUSSELL: My freshman year,
we lost the Final Four.
RUSSELL: My freshman year,
we lost the Final Four.
ANNOUNCER: Good night, UCLA.
I went straight
to the weight room.
I didn't miss a day
from that day.
I probably put on...
hm, 10-15 pounds,
just lifting every day,
hm, 10-15 pounds,
just lifting every day,
getting my body
all worked out every day.
I didn't go home that summer.
You make me feel so light
I met Russell at UCLA.
I was a recruit, actually.
The women's coach at the time,
she used to use me
to be able to make sure
the recruits were cool
because I was chilling.
I don't know if she thought
I was a ladies man or what.
I don't know if she thought
I was a ladies man or what.
But I wasn't mad at it.
I wasn't mad at that.
I wasn't mad at that.
I will tell you, he was
very different in college.
I will tell you, he was
very different in college.
He was very shy. I thought that
was funny because I wasn't.
He was very shy. I thought that
was funny because I wasn't.
Our first date, I used to order
the crab wontons
from Cheesecake Factory.
I was like, here,
you should try it.
And I told her I was
allergic to shellfish.
And she's like...
-No, you're not.
-I'm, like,
trying to make sure
the date goes well,
trying to make sure
I do all the right things.
And he did, he tried it.
He had allergic reaction.
We had a go get Benadryl,
his throat is itching.
We had a go get Benadryl,
his throat is itching.
And he is like [grunting],
doing all of that.
I'm like,
don't eat the shellfish.
I don't know what to tell you.
I was definitely
rolling the dice
when I put
the wonton in, for sure.
when I put
the wonton in, for sure.
What attracted me
to Russell is,
What attracted me
to Russell is,
he was just focused on
doing his own thing.
he was just focused on
doing his own thing.
He would have a test coming up
and he'd be like, "Okay,
I'll see you tomorrow, or in
a couple days, I got to study."
It was like
a perfect match, honestly.
I was never really into
distractions or...
I was never really into
distractions or...
being--
I never really had a wild...
being--
I never really had a wild...
phase or anything like that.
And Russell was the same,
we kind of were family,
at school, you know, focused.
You saw glimpses of him being
a really, really good player.
You saw glimpses of him being
a really, really good player.
It was just a matter of him
putting it all together.
And I think his
sophomore year off season,
when he started playing
pickup more and more
against the pros was when he
was really going to take off.
During the summertime,
a lot of pros
would come in and you play
in the mans gym of UCLA,
would come in and you play
in the mans gym of UCLA,
and they let the college kids
play that went to UCLA.
I wanted to
take full advantage.
He was there every day
in the summer,
competing against those guys.
Everything kind of
turned a notch for me,
and I was at a level
where I felt like,
okay, maybe I
can play with these guys.
Every stage
that you take a step up,
whether it be
high school to college,
college to the NBA,
guys are just going
to get that much better.
guys are just going
to get that much better.
And it was, obvious that
he could play at that level.
And it was, obvious that
he could play at that level.
I said, "Wow, this guy's
going to be special."
I remember one time
Kobe came up there
and obviously the gym
is packed, wall to wall.
and obviously the gym
is packed, wall to wall.
Every student is in there,
you can't move.
And my first thing was like,
"I got Kobe."
He did a solid job on Kobe.
I mean, nobody can stop Kobe,
but, you know,
you talk about a guy
that's going to be a sophomore
in college doing a solid job,
on one of the best two guards
to ever play the game.
I remember him just
telling me like,
you going to be all right
because you came... at me.
And of course, yeah,
I was getting torched,
but I can live with that.
He was playing
like it was the finals.
He was playing
like it was the finals.
It wasn't like
he was taking this off.
He wasn't messing around
and shooting BS shots.
He was playing a game as if he
wasn't going to play tomorrow.
He was playing a game as if he
wasn't going to play tomorrow.
He created this mentality
in my mind, like,
this is
what greatness looks like.
This is what
you need to do every day.
Every time you step
on this floor,
every time you pick a ball up,
you need to play like you
ain't going to play no more.
And that's the mentality
that I've been able
to kind of take with me
to this day.
I think that sophomore year
is where he took a leap.
ANNOUNCER: The senior
from Jackson, Mississippi.
Westbrook
hurries to the other end.
And everything just
clicked for me, my athleticism.
ANNOUNCER:
Seven point footer down.
In the lane,
off the glass and in it.
Speed.
ANNOUNCER: And there's
a steal by Westbrook.
He takes it all away.
At that time, if you had
height, you were 6'3", 6'4",
you had to be a two guard and
you couldn't be a point guard.
ANNOUNCER: Here's Westbrook.
He is extraordinary.
So for him to play in a point
guard position and really well,
So for him to play in a point
guard position and really well,
was an eyeopener
for a lot of people.
[crowd chanting]
Russell Westbrook!
He kind of changed
that whole dynamic.
[crowd chanting]
Russell Westbrook!
ANNOUNCER:
He's got such quickness.
He reads. He's a step ahead.
[cheering]
[cheering]
You know
you wanna see that, baby?
That's what I'm talking about.
You know you wanna see it.
You know, this way, that way.
He's a champion,
Pac-10 tournament champion,
Russell Westbrook, and
defensive player of the year.
You got to be very,
very satisfied with that honor.
Man, I'm satisfied.
I mean, throughout start
of the year, coach told me,
he wanted me to be the
best defender in the country.
That's what I tried to do
throughout the whole year
by stopping
the other team's best player.
It feels real good going
to an tournament.
Mr. Momentum.
ANNOUNCER: All right,
Greg, a partisan crowd,
17,000, here in Anaheim.
So close to the campus
in the UCLA Bruins.
The number one seed
against number 16,
Mississippi Valley State
Delta Devils.
March Madness is about
the longer you win,
the more people see you.
-ANNOUNCER: Look at this.
-Oh my.
-ANNOUNCER: Look at this.
-Oh my.
I'm going to make sure
that I show the world
and show the people
from my neighborhood
that you can watch me on TV.
That I'm gonna
leave on the line,
I'm representing
where I'm from.
ANNOUNCER: Hello.
Take down the collar right now.
Westbrook. Unbelievable.
And the UCLA Bruins win it.
76-57.
We were playing Texas A&M
and we about to lose.
We were playing Texas A&M
and we about to lose.
We down the whole game,
I probably played
the worst half of
my college career at the time.
ANNOUNCER: They have cut
a 21 point deficit to six.
ANNOUNCER: They have cut
a 21 point deficit to six.
Because I was kind of
down on myself
throughout the whole game.
Like, damn, it's going
to be my fault that we lose.
It's going to be
my fault that we go home.
I'm not gonna be able
to go to the NBA.
I'm about to lose it.
I'm about to lose it.
And I remember that moment
just saying like,
man, we in the moment,
live in the moment.
The whole world is watching.
This is your time to shine.
This is your moment.
And don't fuck it up.
ANNOUNCER: And one
strips it from behind.
Westbrook, finally scores.
As time went on and
that meteoric rise in college
As time went on and
that meteoric rise in college
just continued upward,
I wasn't surprised.
ANNOUNCER:
Alison on the dribble,
with the block shot
and Westbrook taking it
the other way for
the exotic exclamation point.
the other way for
the exotic exclamation point.
What a great win!
Something within him,
and you still see it today,
Something within him,
and you still see it today,
is just driving him.
ANNOUNCER:
The final four is underway.
Whether it was his upbringing,
losing a best friend
when he was young,
you know, big Russ.
All of that, just kind
of initiates the flame for him.
All of that, just kind
of initiates the flame for him.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook.
This kid has come on
so big time his sophomore year.
I remember one time we
were talking about like, "Man,
what would it be like if
we all made the NBA and
what do we want when we get
there, if we do get there?"
what do we want when we get
there, if we do get there?"
And his one comment,
and I'll never forget
to this day was,
he was like, "You know what?
If I ever make it,"
he was like, "I just want
to be able to, like,
take care of my family."
He didn't want to make it
just for himself.
He wanted to make it
so he could provide
for everybody around him.
That's what
kind of build his fire.
I feel like God blessed me
with an opportunity to be able
I feel like God blessed me
with an opportunity to be able
to take full advantage of it,
to be able to take care of
the people that I love
and the people that have been
taking care of me
my whole life.
Once I made the decision
to build to go to the draft,
from then on my mind
and mentality
was in the space that
I couldn't get distracted.
I was going to class every day
and I was preparing for
draft in the afternoon,
I would come back
and go to class.
I remember people
used to be like,
"Man, what are you doing here?
What are you doing?"
I'm like, "Listen,
this is what I need to do."
Just because I didn't know,
I didn't know
what was gonna happen.
I wasn't going to be like,
"I'm not going
to school no more.
I don't need education."
Ultimately, he just decided
it was time for him to go
because he had done well.
it was time for him to go
because he had done well.
And this could be
a good opportunity for him,
but he was definitely
very nervous about it.
[static rustling]
[static rustling]
ANNOUNCER: You know who
the first two picks
-are gonna to be.
-ANNOUNCER: Clearly,
much has been made
about the fact
that this is basically
a two-player race for
the number one overall pick,
Derek Rose, Michael Beasley.
The first time my family,
all of us traveled on
an airplane to go to New York,
we never been there.
Never really experienced that.
I mean, we were sitting
in first class. I was like,
"This is exciting."
And you know,
forget the draft.
We get to chill.
We go to the room, they
got stuff in the room for us.
I'm like, man, this is cool.
We got free clothes,
we doing all that stuff.
I'm just like,
I'm just happy to be there.
That's just me.
I'm just happy to be there.
Welcome to the 2008 NBA draft.
Just looking forward to
get this old way, good times.
It happened so quick, man.
And two years earlier,
I'm graduating high school.
Two years later,
you say,
"Hey, we getting ready to go
to NBA draft."
Whoa, whoa, what?
What is happening?
What is happening?
REPORTER:
Take us back two years.
What kind of prospect were
you known as in media circles?
What kind of prospect were
you known as in media circles?
Nobody knew who I was.
Nobody knew who I was.
I mean, I like it like that.
Now, I remember
before the draft,
we all stand on the stage.
We got to take
a little pre-draft picture
with the commissioner.
with the commissioner.
And I remember
just looking down
and kind of going
and scanning the room like...
and kind of going
and scanning the room like...
All these players ahead
of him were highly ranked
in high school and in college.
And I remember he told me, he
said, one thing about the NBA,
is that ranking stuff
don't mean nothing no more.
You have people talk
and they go, "Russell will go
number 13, number 14."
And I asked my husband like,
so what do that mean?
Is he going to get
a lot of money now?
I didn't know.
With the fourth pick
in the 2008 NBA draft,
the Seattle SuperSonics select
Russell Westbrook from UCLA.
the Seattle SuperSonics select
Russell Westbrook from UCLA.
What? I'm like, what, what?
I don't
think anybody anticipated
he would get drafted
as early as he did.
Here's one of the
interesting things about him.
This guy was a late bloomer.
He did not even start
in his high school team
until his junior season.
Oh man, this is crazy.
I'm just all smiles, man.
I'm just so happy.
I see my mom and dad,
my brother, I'm just ecstatic.
I was just shocked.
I just couldn't believe it.
And right now today, I'm like
"Our whole life finna change."
-ANNOUNCER: Kevin Durant there.
-[woman] Hi, Kevin.
ANNOUNCER:
He's like, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
Durant, the NBA rookie
of the year, this past season
welcomes Russell Westbrook
into the fold.
Once I got drafted to Seattle,
Once I got drafted to Seattle,
but soon to be
Oklahoma City Thunder.
I was like, damn, I'm about
to play with Kevin Durant.
I'm like, man,
this could be special.
I don't want to mess this up.
It's a nice city,
but there's nothing
to do out there.
Coming from inner city LA,
big city,
a lot of lights,
traffic, big buildings.
I get to Oklahoma City,
and there was none of that.
It probably was
a little culture shock.
I just think that was
the best place for him,
coming into the NBA.
It helped him
grow up into a man.
We had so many young players.
We had Royal Ivey at the time
and he used to call him
the Toys R Us crew.
The Toys R Us crew.
That's our group.
I rolled my eyes
at them sometimes,
because it was just
like, kids, man. You know?
But Kevin set the tone,
I think, by...
being someone who put in a ton
of work on his individual game.
And Russell came in,
I think he saw
And Russell came in,
I think he saw
how Kevin worked and
wanted to work just as hard.
He has a unique game.
What he does is different than
a lot of just straight
pick and roll point guards.
I think if you look back
at the game, you have guys
like Oscar Robinson,
Magic, John Stockton.
If you average 10-6, you
are considered a point guard.
And then evolution like
Barron Davis, Steve Francis
kind of changed it to a little
more of a scoring point guard.
For me, when I came to league,
I wanted to be able to score,
pass, rebound,
be able to do everything.
There are guys who,
you draft a guy and it's like,
There are guys who,
you draft a guy and it's like,
"This guy is like
a 'natural point guard,'
so to speak
and really sees the game."
And that wasn't
what Russell did best
when he first got here.
ANNOUNCER:
He's out of the pack.
Here's Westbrook racing
up the floor, coast to coast
and he throws it down.
His game wasn't refined.
He just tried to, like,
kill the guy in front of him.
ANNOUNCER: Off the backboard!
Not many players in
the league can do that.
Some of the stuff
he'd do would be wild.
He tried to throw it off
the backboard to himself,
like in game, things like that.
Made a ton of mistakes, and
I think, learned from those.
Ooh. One more try.
But I love the energy.
[cheering]
Kevin Durant is
the face of the franchise.
He's everything you could
want in a ball player,
but it's also hard to find
a point guard built like
an NFL defensive back.
If you could call him
a point guard.
ANNOUNCER: Oh, Westbrook.
It's always been a struggle.
I was trying
to figure out when to score,
when to shoot, when do
the right things on the floor.
But the way
I played the position,
it's like nobody else.
it's like nobody else.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook.
Pulling the trigger.
There's been a lot of
really young promising teams
in the league, but they don't
really break through
in the league, but they don't
really break through
to really win playoff series
and really compete
at a young age.
And I think the reason we did
that is because Russ's tone
was like, "We're here to win,"
and the way he would just
go at it fearlessly,
it brought
the whole team with him.
He's more
than Kevin Durant's sidekick.
He has
an NBA presence of his own.
He has entered star status.
Russell Westbrook, slam dunk
contest commercial, take 11.
Russell Westbrook, slam dunk
contest commercial, take 11.
Everything changed.
He was in the NBA
and I was living on campus,
going to school.
Then he would come into town
and stay in my dorm with me.
Then he would come into town
and stay in my dorm with me.
That was really embarrassing.
It was really weird for me.
PRODUCER: Why?
Just because he got
too much attention.
I don't really want
that kind of attention,
but it was convenient.
A lot of people
mentioned Oklahoma City,
as all market.
"You can't do anything
in a small market,
you can't get endorsement
in a small market.
You can't do this
in a small market."
I was like, "Watch this."
I was like, "Watch this."
Your boy's staying fresh
He's looking at my moves
It's called geek chic.
REPORTER: I love the glasses,
when did you come up
with that style?
I see better without them.
It's funny
now looking back on it,
Russ single handily basically
destroyed the NBA dress code.
Look at Russell Westbrook.
You got to be a hell of player
to wear that outfit.
I appreciated it because
they couldn't really enforce
me not wearing the right shoes
when Russell's walking in
me not wearing the right shoes
when Russell's walking in
with his shirt undone,
bare chested.
with his shirt undone,
bare chested.
Son, my son ripped it.
Reinventing himself
and establishing fashion
trends by the game.
He doesn't express himself
verbally a ton.
He doesn't express himself
verbally a ton.
So I think, if you just pay
attention to what he's got on,
So I think, if you just pay
attention to what he's got on,
you'll get a little insight
into how he's feeling that day.
you'll get a little insight
into how he's feeling that day.
I believe everyone
knows why I wear this.
I believe everyone
knows why I wear this.
Sometimes, he will just
have on normal sweat pants.
Sometimes, he will just
have on normal sweat pants.
And sometimes it's like,
he is so loud
And sometimes it's like,
he is so loud
and we can be going
to the same place.
He looks like he's going on
vacation in Hawaii somewhere,
and I look like
I'm going to a dinner party.
And I'm always trying
to coordinate with Russell.
And I'm always trying
to coordinate with Russell.
"Can we please look
like we're going to
the same place tonight?"
Barneys threw a party
in honor of him
and his clothing line.
Yeah, he had the full mink.
He was killing me
with that one.
I want one of those coats,
but as a fashion king,
he going to bring
something new out every day.
Here's you coming to the game,
and everyone just thought
that you were stealing.
[all laughing]
Just saying, man, come on.
RUSSELL: Yeah. I mean, I guess
he's copying me. It's true.
As with all things
with Russell,
he was like,
"I'm going to be me.
So this is just what I'm
wearing and I'll make it cool."
And that's kind of how
he approaches life, I think.
And that's kind of how
he approaches life, I think.
REPORTER:
People call you a style icon.
I mean, how do you take that?
What does that mean to you?
It's a blessing.
I do this on my own,
no stylist.
And I just kind of go
and have my own swag
and I think that's the
greatest part about it.
I never grew up thinking
I would be famous,
never grew up thinking I'm
going to have a lot of money.
My parents always taught me,
stay grounded,
stay humble
and understand who you are.
So when it started to happen,
I wasn't phased by it,
So when it started to happen,
I wasn't phased by it,
because I
was true to who I was.
He just like me.
I don't look at
another person
to see what they're wearing
and try to put,
I put it together myself.
and try to put,
I put it together myself.
I don't ask for nobody opinion.
Let me see.
You got... No, let me see.
I want some slouch socks,
you got slouch socks?
I want some slouch socks,
you got slouch socks?
No slouch socks?
No. I said show me.
I didn't know they still
had it going on like this.
They're still
-cracking though, Mom?
-Oh, it's nice.
Get a little sweat suit.
We used come here--
How often do we come here, Mom?
-Every other weekend.
-Yeah.
At least every other weekend.
We couldn't come all the time.
We had to make sure
we could afford it,
before we come here
and get everything.
My mom's greatest impact
on me that she has
My mom's greatest impact
on me that she has
when I was younger
until now is...
when I was younger
until now is...
being very level-headed
through all the chaos.
Check it out, check it out.
Check it out, check it out.
SHANNON: It's where
they got the t-shirt set.
RUSSELL: Oh, right here.
We shopped here so many times
and I've gotten school clothes,
We shopped here so many times
and I've gotten school clothes,
jerseys, hats,
beanies, socks, drawers.
Oh yeah. That's what I need.
Hello.
She always kept
everything together
and a lot of stuff,
I don't know.
And a lot of stuff I've learned
as I've gotten older,
of taking me to school,
taking my brother to school,
picking my dad up from work,
then going to work,
doing different things.
There's so much going on.
I could never tell that
that was happening.
And that's something that I
And that's something that I
can always reference to
when I feel like
there's something,
I have so much going on.
I have this,
that and the other.
-Haha.
-This is it.
Hold on Keith, I got action.
These sweats,
extra large in gray?
These sweats,
extra large in gray?
Because I haven't
been here so long.
Just like a kid in
the candy store running around,
just trying to grab
everything that I can.
Oh yeah. I know the beanie.
How you doing?
Two for five, or $3 each.
Oh, my.
She was always the one
that kept me in the loop of--
of fashion,
always kept me trendy.
Always making sure
that whatever that
we could afford,
she would make sure that I had.
How much for Lysol?
[indistinct response]
Oh, okay. Thank you.
And just keep going as
you go around. Huh?
How much for Lysol?
[indistinct]
Bargain shopping is the best.
My mom always taught me that.
Just understanding where you
don't have to buy everything
at a high price, but also you
can bargain and still be fresh.
I might go to the high
end stores every now and then.
Mostly he's like,
"Mommy, you want to go there?"
"Yeah, we can go."
If I see something,
he going to buy it.
I'm like, okay, we're going
to buy it. I'll take it.
I told Ray, we going to go to
the Wienerschnitzel after this.
I told Ray, we going to go to
the Wienerschnitzel after this.
I don't know.
Is it still over there?
You done got three for three.
There's these
Michael Jordan shoes
that came out, Jordan 9's.
My mom stood in line
for hours and hours
to make sure that
I had these shoes.
And to me that was...
something I would never forget
because it wasn't about
the shoes. It was more about,
she knew that I had an interest
in fashion
and understanding about
the world of fashion,
understanding
this is something
that I was passionate about.
I got to a point
in my career where
I was playing
at a high level and playing
at a level where
Jordan and MJ recognized that.
And the brand
came to me like, "Listen,
we want to give you your own
signature basketball shoe."
I'm like, "Whoa, wait."
And I'm like,
"Damn, this is crazy."
Now this is a different level.
I remember having that meeting
at my agent's office
at the time.
And I remember everybody
just kind of...
And I remember everybody
just kind of...
clearing out the room.
And I remember sitting there
just like this, just like damn.
My own basketball shoe,
that's crazy.
I remember getting the boxes.
Whoosh! One big delivery.
I'm like, wow.
Whoosh! One big delivery.
I'm like, wow.
I remember going through
every single box.
Like, what are these?
Damn, what is this?
What is this? What is this?
Crying just by myself, because
Crying just by myself, because
I just remember the struggle
my parents had to endure.
I'm literally thinking
like, damn,
this is a blessing
on many levels, but, like...
this is a blessing
on many levels, but, like...
I was like,
I ain't going to mess this up.
[static rustling]
[static rustling]
ANNOUNCER:
Congratulations, Kevin.
You've had a great run
and hope it continues for you
in the NBA finals.
Here are your
Western Conference Champions
heading to the NBA finals,
The Oklahoma City Thunders.
heading to the NBA finals,
The Oklahoma City Thunders.
That season
was unbelievable, man.
We was really connected
on so many levels.
We all in,
we want to win a championship
regardless of stats,
regardless of the numbers,
regardless of the accolades,
we want to win a championship.
And we feel like we have
enough in this room to do it.
And the rise to
the finals was quick.
FAN: Are you ready
for the NBA finals?
-[all cheering]
-And in the finals against
the LeBron and Bosch
and Wade another team
with experience
that was ready to win.
A Miami team that's just lost
in the finals last year.
A Miami team that's just lost
in the finals last year.
And they get
to the finals again,
we got home court advantage.
ANNOUNCER: The Chesapeake
Energy Arena is alive,
ANNOUNCER: The Chesapeake
Energy Arena is alive,
as these fans are delirious
about their thunder.
We was young, it was a sense of
like arrogancy, but confident.
We was young, it was a sense of
like arrogancy, but confident.
But also we know
we got this room
and we never really care
who the matchup was.
ANNOUNCER: Westbrook
season opening. Westbrook.
Splits plus hand,
he touched the net and a foul.
Ties the game with 16.4
to play here on the third.
One game won and felt like
we got a really good shot
to win this.
ANNOUNCER: Russell Westbrook
was magnificent,
burning with a triple double.
Us winning the first game
was the worst thing
that happened to us.
OKC swarm them,
once they get going,
the other team gets back
on their heels
and OKC just
keeps coming at you.
There's about three days
before the next game.
There's about three days
before the next game.
And there's a whole
three days, two days,
all you hear the media
talking about is...
A lot of Durant,
a lot of Westbrook,
a lot of second half.
Durant and Westbrook
went sonic boom
on the Heat all by themselves.
The Thunder,
Heat, Thunder, Heat.
Why did the Heat
struggle to contain
Russell Westbrook so much?
He can do it off the dribble.
He's an explosive athlete, and
he never lacks for confidence.
I remember being at home
and I'm like mentally,
I got to turn
this shit off, because...
every media person across
the world is talking about
how this young team can beat
a LeBron James and the Heat
and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Thunder, not the Heat are
the favorites in these finals.
The Thunder, not the Heat are
the favorites in these finals.
That started to seep
into our locker room.
Like, damn, okay.
We got to fight through this.
We got to fight this temptation
and not letting this seep in
because they were a hungry team
and they didn't want
to get back to the finals
and lose again.
Especially to some young guns
that just got here.
And... we was
feeling ourself too much.
COMMENTATOR:
The Heat have come out
with a vengeance
here on the first quarter.
A 17-point lead.
I believe that it made
the Heat more aggressive
and also believe it made us...
relax and felt like
we had things under control,
which we clearly didn't.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook.
It's inside, back to Perkins,
mishandles it.
Ibaka tried to get it,
Wade takes it away
and throws it down.
Pull up jumper from Westbrook
rattles in and out.
Westbrook dives again,
gets inside, missed it.
Westbrook dives again,
gets inside, missed it.
And he's off to a tough start
shooting the ball.
They came and beat us
the second game on our court.
And I knew going to Miami
going to be difficult.
We were young
and we were in Miami.
We were young
and we were in Miami.
A lot going on in the city,
a lot going on outside of
the basketball court
that can distract us.
COMMENTATOR: A devastating
defeat for Oklahoma City.
Now it's two one.
Third straight game,
hanging in the balance
in the final minute.
And Battier knocks it away
and they foul Chalmers.
And Battier knocks it away
and they foul Chalmers.
Why are they fouling?
A poor decision
from Russell Westbrook.
And now they'll be facing
elimination on the road.
And now they'll be facing
elimination on the road.
They had a lot of experienced
guys that played in
many deep playoff games,
we didn't.
And I think that's where
they kind of had
their advantage over us.
Now, boom, they're celebrating
on the quarter, final's over.
COMMENTATOR:
It's a bitter disappointment,
but they had a remarkable run.
And it happened that fast, like
damn, it happened so quick.
I was very disappointed
in Russell Westbrook.
That was the worst point guard
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
That was difficult to take
for many reasons because
Magic was a player that I...
Somebody, I kind of
looked up to at the time.
Somebody, I kind of
looked up to at the time.
One of my favorite players
at the time.
One of my favorite players
at the time.
And I was like, okay.
Darren Collison I can't imagine
as a player you see one of
the best point guards to ever
play the game, if not the best.
the best point guards to ever
play the game, if not the best.
Imagine them making
a comment on your game.
I mean,
you could feel really low,
especially in the biggest stage
of the NBA, the finals.
For my parents,
for people that look up to me,
For my parents,
for people that look up to me,
for people around the world,
that's listening,
because it's Magic Johnson,
people take
what he say seriously.
The worst point guard
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
in a championship finals
I've ever seen.
And for me, I'm like...
bullshit. Did I play bad?
bullshit. Did I play bad?
There's a possibility
I could've played bad.
MAGIC JOHNSON: He was too wild.
He was taking
off balance shots.
I believe that the stage
that we were on
I believe that the stage
that we were on
kind of magnified my play,
magnified the mistakes I made.
kind of magnified my play,
magnified the mistakes I made.
Got to come out and
set the tone with Kevin Durant.
He's learning this stuff in the
most pressure filled moments.
And when the stakes are
at the highest,
when everybody's watching on TV
and then the next day
everyone's talking about it
all day to fill the space of
the talk shows all day long.
Second half, James Harden
who was on had two shots.
Kevin Durant
couldn't find the ball.
You're Russell Westbrook,
you're averaging 27 points
in the NBA finals.
But my concern is
that's what that seems to be
what he's most concerned about.
I just think
there was a lot of things
that were said about him
that was just unfair.
The level of selfishness
that I saw
in game two last night
was so alarming.
Said a little bit
about who I was.
Russell Westbrook has a huge
ego and a small basketball IQ.
Russell Westbrook has a huge
ego and a small basketball IQ.
They were disrespecting...
They were disrespecting...
me, disrespecting our family.
He is egregious.
He is unconscionable.
He is unconstitutional.
He is asinine, ten,
eleven and twelve.
They raised me.
They know who I am.
They raised me.
They know who I am.
But this is
the biggest stage in sports.
People watch the finals
all across the world.
And they're hearing these
things said about their son.
And they're hearing these
things said about their son.
It completely put me
in a place of rage.
It completely put me
in a place of rage.
Now, are
you upset with something?
You shouldn't be upset.
I just don't like you.
-You don't?
-No.
Every day
there's something new about me.
It's like
the good looking girl,
nasty personality.
She'll say anything.
She'll do anything.
But she looks good.
The big media narrative
was probably just
not a pure point guard.
He'd take a lot of shots.
He's got Kevin on his team.
And if a game where Kevin
didn't get enough shots
and Russ took a bunch of shots
and we lost, it would be,
he's shooting too much,
he's not passing.
Those type of things.
These dynamic point guards,
they got to give the ball up.
Westbrook doesn't.
The media's like, no,
because you're a point guard,
you can't take over the game.
You have to make this play
and you have to give it
to this player.
and you have to give it
to this player.
What do you say
to people who question
whether or not
they say a point guard
is supposed to
be passing the ball.
This guy shouldn't be shooting
more than you in any game.
The narrative was like,
you take away from Kevin.
The narrative was like,
you take away from Kevin.
And regardless of what
that takeaway may be,
whether it's you're doing good,
you're doing bad.
It was like, no,
you shouldn't be doing this.
You should be
a prototypical point guard.
He's inflexible.
His personality's inflexible.
His game is inflexible.
A ball-centric, delusional,
A ball-centric, delusional,
undisciplined wreck.
Mentally,
it was difficult for me.
I would go home and...
figure out like,
man, am I tripping?
Is it my fault?
Because I don't want
to be the reason why
somebody don't feel like
they can get
the best out themselves because
of something I was doing.
I don't know what
the media is doing out here,
but everybody needs
to just lay off Russell.
Yeah, that's
a bad little dude, man.
He's got the same type
of dog that I had in me.
I remember
the conversations of,
I remember
the conversations of,
if I was a ball-hog,
I wasn't passing.
I was like, okay,
well, I'm going to lead
the league in assists.
So I do that again,
and again, and again.
COMMENTATOR: Russell continues
to pileup those assists.
That's not a thing anymore.
It's like, okay, well...
I'm going to show you
that I'm the best...
rebounding guard ever.
COMMENTATOR: There's not
a better rebounding guard
in the league.
Shocker there, it's Westbrook.
Shocker there, it's Westbrook.
Just because I played
the game like nobody else
and leave it on the line
with passion
and aggression and energy,
don't mean that...
I'm a bad teammate,
or I'm selfish,
or I'm not a good guy,
or uncoachable.
or I'm not a good guy,
or uncoachable.
And it was getting
so crazy because
the fans started listening.
I hear the boo's for Westbrook.
This is what we came
to see right here.
I was getting booed
in every arena.
And I just say, I'm done.
I'm done talking about it.
I'm done entertaining it.
So next time when the
media asks me, they will get...
B.S. answers from me.
Did you guys lose this game
or did the Jazz win this one?
What?
I need to strip.
Because I'm not about
to even involve myself in
no dumb stuff like that.
But next question, man.
Part of a basketball
player's job is to
answer questions at
the press conference.
It's not between me and you.
Next question.
-It's a legitimate question.
-Next question.
To do this on
a day to day basis.
Next question, next.
To this guy.
To me is a little selfish,
a little childish as well.
Next question. Next question.
Next question.
No more questions for you, bro.
Could I handle it
differently with the media?
Probably, so.
Do I regret some of the things,
how I handled it?
Maybe some of them,
but most of the time
I didn't talk to them,
or I gave them...
attitude because
I was very aware of
the things that was being said.
He's intense on the court.
When he feels a like he's
being attacked he's intense.
When he feels a like he's
being attacked he's intense.
If someone was on TV,
talking crazy about him
the night before, and he sees
him in real life the next day,
and they ask him a question,
like everything is all good.
He's not going to answer
like everything's all good.
We heard you, we saw you.
And then
he gets painted the bad guy
because he's not okay with
people trashing him on TV.
It was a turning point.
It made me think about, okay,
I got a lot of things to prove.
It made me think about, okay,
I got a lot of things to prove.
Russell Westbrook presenting
his first reading room
for Oklahoma City
public schools.
There we go.
There we go. There we go.
Magic.
Russell has
a polarizing personality.
On one end he's dancing,
the other end he's angry.
But he gets totally
misunderstood about who he is.
But he gets totally
misunderstood about who he is.
So what you want?
Let me see.
No, don't just pick anything.
What you like to read?
Oh, this is Lego Star Wars.
Let me see.
His personality may
be misunderstood at times
His personality may
be misunderstood at times
with the attitude
he may have in the media,
because they may have
rubbed him the wrong way
by saying something
that he didn't appreciate.
But no, Russell's not like
that outside of basketball.
But no, Russell's not like
that outside of basketball.
You're going to read it?
You sure?
Okay. Now you got to keep it
and take it home.
It's your first book.
So you got to get it
and come back
and get another one.
I never jumped about
being in this position.
I never jumped about
being in this position.
Never jumped about
being in the NBA,
but I understand that
me being in this position
allows me to be able to connect
and reach so many people
across the world.
And my parents always
told me to be humbled
And my parents always
told me to be humbled
and be thankful and be
gracious of what you have,
and be thankful and be
gracious of what you have,
but also remember
where you come from.
And I think that's a huge part
of just how I operate.
I was in the same position
as some of these kids
I was in the same position
as some of these kids
and I grew up in
the Boys and Girls Club.
Now I'm just honor to blessed
for be in a position I am now
to be able to give back
and do something like this
for different families
and kids.
You never know who's watching,
something that
my dad always taught me.
Could have been that kid
that grew up in the hood
of Oklahoma City
and had one ticket
in that particular night,
if I didn't bring it
and I feel like I was
letting that kid down.
Fuel me to constantly
bring what I had every day,
fueled me to be able to
make sure that I left the game
changing somebody's
perspective of me.
Hello, hello, hello everyone.
How you guys doing?
I want to thank Edwards
Elementary School.
Thank you for letting me open
my fourth Reading Room
here in Oklahoma City.
[cheering]
A lot of people give money,
but I want to be the guy that
A lot of people give money,
but I want to be the guy that
you can touch,
you can relate to,
a guy that you can understand.
Get one. We won't going
to give you nothing, homie.
God has giving me a special
gift to be able to...
hold a lot of weight and do
a lot of different things
and have my hands in
so many different things.
I feel like He...
put this on me, it's 'cause
he knows I can handle it.
The school, the organization
has really stepped up
and reached out to families.
has really stepped up
and reached out to families.
So many grants for families
that weren't working.
-Mm-hmm.
-The organization was
helping with that.
And they still need supplies.
They still need things.
He will literally be upset
because he feels like he's not
He will literally be upset
because he feels like he's not
doing enough all the time.
doing enough all the time.
And I think it's the weirdest,
craziest thing.
I'm like, you're doing plenty,
just chill.
The Community Assist Award
really goes to that player
who really gives back
to the community
and cares about the community.
And there hasn't been a player
more representative of that,
And there hasn't been a player
more representative of that,
than Russell this year.
I'm in a process
of sealing and dealing,
sealing and dealing,
wheeling and dealing.
There's not one day
I wake up and be like, damn,
I got too much to do.
I got too many people...
in my ear,
I got too much going on.
Because...
I know that
I'm the person that's
I know that
I'm the person that's
supposed to take care of it.
[static rustling]
COMMENTATOR: For the
second time in three years,
and the fourth time
in the past six,
the Thunder in the Western
Conference finals.
13 at Oklahoma city takes
on record-setting
73-win defending
NBA champion, Golden State.
We had gone to
the finals in '12
and I think we thought
we would be back.
We didn't get there in '13.
We didn't get there in '14.
Everybody was hurt in '15.
We didn't have appreciate
for how hard that was
going to be to get back.
And so I think we cherished
that opportunity
And so I think we cherished
that opportunity
a lot more than
we did the first time.
COMMENTATOR: Loser of
two consecutive games,
Oklahoma city summons
all it has for game seven
on the road tonight.
There's a short amount
of time in your career
where you have a chance
to win a championship.
[cheering]
It's not something
that you wake up
and you're like, oh yeah,
I'm great,
so I'm a winning championship.
No, it doesn't work that way.
Number one,
you got to stay healthy.
You got to have a good team.
You got to have
a good organization.
Good coaching.
You got to be lucky.
It's a lot of things that have
to go your way
to be able to win.
COMMENTATOR: He fires!
[cheering]
COMMENTATOR: That's the score
here at [indistinct] Arena.
COMMENTATOR: That's the score
here at [indistinct] Arena.
I'm pissed. I'm livid.
I'm pissed. I'm livid.
I felt like...
we let that
opportunity slip away.
And that to me was the...
biggest, just, kind of
upsetting thing about it,
which really pissed me off.
And I was just like...
And I was just like...
if we have the same team,
we can do it again.
Anthony Slader with Oklahoma.
Kevin, you know,
the loss is still fresh,
but you have kind of
an unknown future
coming over the next month.
an unknown future
coming over the next month.
How do you expect
that to play out?
And when you'll start
thinking about it.
I mean, it's, we just lost
like 30 minutes ago.
Myself and Kevin had
a unique situation,
because Kevin was really,
really good early.
I wasn't that great.
Kevin was
always getting better,
and getting better,
getting better.
My evolution happened
pretty quickly
to where we never was equal,
but we were pretty damn close
of being able to hold our own
and run the organization
and to do things that
can change the game.
A very active Kevin Durant
and Russell Westbrook,
obviously in disagreement.
They both...
were trying to establish
who they were in this league.
And there were times
where late in games,
one guy wants the shot,
the other one gets the shot.
But I think there was always
a respect and an understanding.
But I think there was always
a respect and an understanding.
Internally we would
try to figure out how to
make each other better,
how to evolve.
make each other better,
how to evolve.
KEVIN DURANT: There's times
where Russell comes to me
on the court and gets in
my face and tells me,
you should have shot the ball,
you should have
passed the ball.
Stuff like that.
And as a player and as a person
that wants to get better,
I can't always be
defensive about it.
I got to be a guy
that's willing to learn.
We talk all the time
as teammates.
Was able to get some things off
our chest about each other,
which I think
was very beneficial because
it allowed us to
see some of the things
that he didn't like
about myself.
It allowed me to see some
things I didn't like about him.
Kevin Durant Russell was a guy
that's aggressive forward.
So he has a chip on his
shoulder, like everybody says,
and people think that's
hurting me as a player.
And I think
I've gotten better, actually.
I don't see
what the problem is.
I enjoy playing with Russell.
We've grown to be
like brothers.
And that's
the best thing about it.
Coming to work
with your brother.
We had it pretty damn packed,
We had it pretty damn packed,
because nobody could stop
from what we were doing
for many years.
But the outside noise
of people, the media,
But the outside noise
of people, the media,
creates a problem.
If you're not strong mentally
to be able to withstand it.
I feel sorry for Kevin Durant,
he is stuck
with Russell Westbrook.
This team will never
win a championship
with Russell Westbrook
as the primary decision maker.
with Russell Westbrook
as the primary decision maker.
The news again,
coming in moments ago,
Kevin Durant heading to
the Golden State Warriors.
He didn't feel he could
win a championship
with Russell Westbrook.
I can't play
an entire career with a guy
who thinks he's better than me,
when he's clearly not.
I start laughing instantly.
I'm like this can't be true.
It's like, no.
No way he would go to
that team, they just beat us.
Did the fact that
not only Kevin left,
but it was to Golden State, did
that make it sting even more?
but it was to Golden State, did
that make it sting even more?
Sting for who?
It was already conversations of
if I was good enough,
or if I can hold my own team,
or if I could...
do things alone without Kevin.
You better have hope in OKC,
You better have hope in OKC,
Westbrook continues to pass
more than shoot,
and they can get past
the first round.
I'll be lying to say that
it didn't affect me,
didn't affect...
my thought process.
It did. It made me...
pissed off.
It made me more...
competitive,
made me want to go out and...
and do things that
nobody's ever seen,
that been done before.
His pride.
His pride as a superstar.
That's where
he getting that from.
He came back like, I'm the face
of this organization now,
and I need to lead this team.
It was an opportunity to go, be
all he could be on the court.
COMMENTATOR: Here's Westbrook
racing up the court,
coast to coast.
And he throws it down.
[cheering]
That's rude, folks.
Oh, do you believe that guy?
It's just sick.
I had so much...
built up rage and, like,
every opportunity
I had to go out
and do whatever I need to do,
I would make sure that
it was done in a way that
people would be like,
damn, why are you so mad?
Russell was not going
to let anybody
take his head off without him
going down swinging.
And that's just his mentality.
It's almost like
a character flaw.
KEVIN LOVE: He's always looking
for the smallest slight
to get to that next level.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook sees
an opening and throws it down.
Russell will hold onto
something from five years ago
and still let it trigger his
competitive nature to this day.
and still let it trigger his
competitive nature to this day.
COMMENTATOR: Jail break.
What a pass, what a pass.
COMMENTATOR: Jail break.
What a pass, what a pass.
He nutmegged Corey Joseph--
He had so many
big shots that year.
COMMENTATOR:
Back out, Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook!
The triple double
thing was fun.
Seeing those
every single night.
COMMENTATOR: Rebound deflected.
Taken by Westbrook.
Throws ahead.
What a pass to Oladipo.
And a triple double
for Russell Westbrook.
What a year he's having.
No thanks, but...
To the man above, man.
So thankful to be able
to play the game I love.
And I was happy we got the win.
I was just doing what
I had to do for us to win.
That's really how I felt.
The game always
will tell me what to do.
And If it's passing,
then it's passing.
If it's rebound,
then it gets rebounded.
If you're scoring,
then it's that.
If it's all three,
then you need to do all three.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook
with the rebound.
Here we go.
Russell driving,
Russell scoring!
Westbrook with
the triple double.
20 triple doubles
for Westbrook.
Three in a row.
Do you think you
he can maintain
this triple double average
for the entire season?
I think if he puts
his mind to it, yes.
You know, for so many years
we talked about him.
He's doing too much.
He's doing this.
So now for the first year
he's getting
everybody involved,
making his teammates better,
and he is playing
beautiful basketball.
I get to triple double about,
you know, 35, 36.
I get to triple double about,
you know, 35, 36.
The road crowds
and home crowds,
they start keeping count.
So now it becomes a thing.
And it's hard to not
think about it
because people are talking
about it all the time.
Russell is in Russell heaven
without Kevin Durant.
And never seen
anything like it.
This is your seventh
straight triple double.
Number 41 on this season.
You're now 16 assists
from averaging a triple double.
You're now 16 assists
from averaging a triple double.
This is the MVP!
I've been so long
of people booing me
and talking crazy to me.
And I was in shock because
every arena
was cheering for me.
I ain't used to none of this.
COMMENTATOR:
And another three Westbrook.
Why not? Why not?
And the running man,
Russell Westbrook.
We're watching something that
hasn't happened since 1962.
We're watching something that
hasn't happened since 1962.
The triple double
has been folklore forever.
I hate betting against the guy
because every time I say,
well, he's not going to do it,
he's doing it.
But it's got to catch up
with him at some point.
I remember everybody,
my mom, dad,
I remember everybody,
my mom, dad,
wife was like,
this is not sustainable.
But in my mind,
I was like, I'm crazy.
My mind made up that...
it ain't nothing going to stop
me from what's about to happen.
COMMENTATOR:
Thunders out of time outs.
Adams gives it back to Russ.
He shot it. Get it!
[cheering]
What a perfect ending
to a historic day.
Russell Westbrook
stands with one of
the greatest in NBA history.
stands with one of
the greatest in NBA history.
KEVIN DURANT: I got to give
a huge shout out, man,
to the Brody, man,
Russell Westbrook,
man, on
his historical season, man.
It's just certain things
that you never think
you going to see or never think
that's going to be broken.
ANNOUNCER:
The only other player
to ever take
triple double in a season,
to ever take
triple double in a season,
please give a warm Oklahoma
welcome to Lester Robertson.
please give a warm Oklahoma
welcome to Lester Robertson.
It kind of hit me like, this
is history, not just for me,
but this is way
bigger than even myself.
I think that what he has done
has been historic in nature.
He's played with
passion and pride.
I only have
one more thing to say. MVP!
[crowd cheering]
And the winner of the 2017 NBA
Most Valuable Player
award is...
Russell Westbrook.
[applause]
It was a special year,
just overall,
because I truly
felt accomplished.
because I truly
felt accomplished.
I want to thank my family.
Without you guys,
I want to thank my family.
Without you guys,
I don't know where I would be.
Your support, your sacrifice,
everything
you guys have done for me.
I told myself
I ain't going to cry, but...
I told myself
I ain't going to cry, but...
[applause]
[applause]
We didn't win
the championship, no.
We didn't get out the
first round, no. But...
to be able to share
with my family
and my teammates and
show my support to the city
of Oklahoma, felt like...
show my support to the city
of Oklahoma, felt like...
we proved
a lot of people wrong.
And well, our point was made.
I'm very, very thankful
and a blessed man to go out
I'm very, very thankful
and a blessed man to go out
and compete, man. And like
I've said many, many times.
and compete, man. And like
I've said many, many times.
So, I don't take
this game for granted.
I don't take going on the floor
and competing for granted.
And God got something
planned for me, man,
nobody can stop it. I always
continue to follow His faith
and stay faithful
and just stay strong
and stay faithful
and just stay strong
and continue to do
what I'm doing.
Nothing in my life
would be possible.
The things
I'm able to accomplish
wouldn't be possible.
Me sitting here talking
wouldn't be possible. Me...
doing things
to help other people,
having a platform
wouldn't be possible
without me having faith in God.
That's the most important thing
about this entire journey.
That's the most important thing
about this entire journey.
COMMENTATOR: Here it is.
20, 20, 20 game.
First time since 1968.
First time since 1968.
That's for his God.
He really hustle.
It allows me to go
and do things on the court,
It allows me to go
and do things on the court,
off the court, play with
a passion, play with the edge,
off the court, play with
a passion, play with the edge,
play with a sense of really
not caring what happens
because I know
win, lose, or draw
that I'm covered
by the man above,
regardless of any result.
COMMENTATOR: Spins.
Kicks Adams. Another slam.
We just watched history here.
We just watched history here.
Is he the king
of the triple double?
-Of this generation, yes.
-Of this. Okay...
But when you talk about
the king of triple doubles,
there's three guys ahead
of him. Jason Kidd being
the next guy in line,
then Magic Johnson.
-Buck, buck.
-And then the big O.
Russell Westbrook could
never be the king of the triple
double, because the king
put up a score that was so high
that nobody could take it down.
[static]
[static]
[muffled chatter]
[muffled chatter]
[cameras clicking]
[cameras clicking]
And I'm pleased
to welcome Russell Westbrook
and his wonderful family
to Houston.
He plays with an energy,
a passion,
a will to win that I think
is really unparalleled
in the league.
To have that on
our bench now is incredible.
JOURNALIST: So Russell,
what can you say that
those of us have only seen
you as an opponent don't know
about you? Something that
you'd like for people to know.
That I'm a nice guy.
[man chuckling]
COMMENTATOR: There's
a little fatigue with Russell
in the triple double.
Once he did it, Skip,
the luster has gone away.
Well, I don't know why,
why are you getting numb to it?
Because who's doing it?
I was getting to a point where
I was like, man, you know,
it's getting difficult.
You felt like he was
having to fight
public perception inside
of his own home, basically.
I think he went from
Mr. Triple Double
to Mr. Nothing but Trouble.
The fans got in his head,
the press got in his head.
He's got to get it together.
I was feeling like
it was starting to control
who I was becoming as a person,
how I was playing.
And I wasn't in
a space mentally,
And I wasn't in
a space mentally,
to continue in Oklahoma city.
to continue in Oklahoma city.
You want me to tell you
what I normally tell you?
What? That I got my chest out?
Why do you got
your titties all out?
Well, because if
you're not, you got to show.
I'm going to show
my date. Okay, okay.
Don't start.
It's like the first day
of school.
I know!
You look good, Russell.
[speaking indistinctly]
Okay, okay.
You got your ratchet brown
lunch bag.
[laughing]
I got my lunch bag. I'm ready.
Go give Momma a kiss.
[laughing]
[laughing]
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
I'mma always have faith in
whatever is happening,
I'mma always have faith in
whatever is happening,
because we all got
put on this Earth
for a particular reason.
And it's not just a easy ride.
And it's not just a easy ride.
When you're able to be yourself
and be who you are,
everything else
will fall in place.
REPORTER: China has more
than 200 confirmed cases
of Coronavirus, it's called,
which produces
pneumonia-like symptoms.
which produces
pneumonia-like symptoms.
SECOND REPORTER: The mysterious
virus now reaching Europe,
with confirmed cases in France
and nine other countries.
It's going to disappear
one day. It's like a miracle.
It will disappear.
Coronavirus officially
hitting the US.
World Health Organization has
officially declared a pandemic.
Alarming news tonight about
the coronavirus,
devastating at every level.
REPORTER:
A sudden jump in infections.
Tragic new numbers
on the pandemic.
One million deaths.
-The virus raging.
-Morgues overflow.
It's time to cancel everything.
-Stay at home.
-Stay at home.
REPORTER: Stay at home,
lock yourself inside
and don't come out.
[dramatic music]
[static]
[static]
[child babbling]
[child babbling]
It's a lot of cars.
Yeah, you got a lot of cars.
Daddy got a lot of cars too.
Daddy do got a lot of cars too.
Daddy do got a lot of cars too.
We got
the same thing in common.
The first thing
you think about is
make sure my family was fine.
My mom, my dad,
brother, my wife, kids,
My mom, my dad,
brother, my wife, kids,
and making sure
that they were... fine
and making sure
that they were okay,
and they had everything
that they need
moving forward, because
I felt like it was going
to get very, very serious where
you may not be able
to leave the house.
Taking you out this seat.
-What do you want me to do?
-To push you.
You got to use your muscles if
you want to get me
out the seat. One.
Not playing for three months,
actually personally,
I like it. I like to rest.
I think resting and being able
to sit back and gather
my thoughts. Get healthy.
Hang with the family.
Hang with the family.
I don't mind it one bit.
What's wrong with you?
Tired?
I'm more happy than they are.
[yelling]
[yelling]
What's my name?
-Dada.
-There you go.
To my family, I'm just Russell.
I'm the guy that,
you know, loving, caring.
I want to make sure
my family is good.
I want to make sure
my family is good.
Make sure my friends is good.
Make sure the people around me,
my close ones
are taken care of.
And that's all
that really matters to me.
Russell's very
much a routine person.
But with kids you can't really
have too much of a routine,
But with kids you can't really
have too much of a routine,
depending on how present
you want to be.
And Russell wants
to be very present.
So he shifted everything.
It's like, okay, so
now I have to do what's best
for the kids and the family.
You go pee pee in the potty?
Pee pee in the...
Good job, Jo-Jo. My daughters
has taught me how to love more.
As a father,
when you have girls,
I think it's just natural.
Cash! I just made it.
You got to get the rebound.
And my son has taught me
patience on all levels.
Both arms.
-[yells]
-You'll be all right.
-[yells]
-You'll be all right.
Did you let him go by himself?
Um, um...
No, no.
He didn't go by himself.
INTERVIEWER: His life's
going to be very different
than yours growing up.
Do you think about that?
All the time,
but I think about it
in a positive way.
but I think about it
in a positive way.
Woohoo!
-I did it.
-You did it, buddy.
The different things
that my dad went through,
he didn't want
to see me go through.
I've been blessed and
thankful do be in this position
and have the means to
be able to do the things
that I want to do.
My job is to make sure,
and my wife's job is
to make sure, that we...
raise our kids the best way
that we can raise them
and make sure they understand
that this wasn't just given
to us, it was--
that this wasn't just given
to us, it was--
you had to work for it and make
sure they understand that.
you had to work for it and make
sure they understand that.
Basketball, it's going to be
a short time in my life,
Basketball, it's going to be
a short time in my life,
but during that short time
I'd like to take advantage
of each and every opportunity
that's given to me.
[music shuffling]
[music shuffling]
[hip hop music]
[hip hop music]
[pinball dropping]
[pinball dropping]
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
Oh, you better move
You better move,
you better move
Come on!
[Indistinct].
Being at home and resting
and hanging out, that's my jam.
For Russell,
I don't think he realizes
how much it's not his.
I think he enjoys
spending time with us
and the kids and his family,
but I could see him getting
antsy and ready to work out
but I could see him getting
antsy and ready to work out
and started picking up how many
times a day he was working out,
and started picking up how many
times a day he was working out,
and so I think that
he's really happy now.
No, you can't cuff me,
baby let me loose
The way that I live,
baby, that's a ruse
The way that I live,
baby, that's a ruse
When I'm at home,
I don't have to pound my chest,
jump up and down and scream,
I can turn it down
a little bit.
But at the same time,
I still have my edge.
[sneakers squeaking]
I won!
And basketball, you're able
to express and scream and yell.
And basketball, you're able
to express and scream and yell.
All these emotions come up.
He's just on a hundred all the
time when he's on the floor.
He just becomes that
larger than life personality
He just becomes that
larger than life personality
and character, and that escape
allows him to have
and character, and that escape
allows him to have
all that energy
there on the court
Finished. Fuck you.
In my early years in Oklahoma
City, I had so much going on.
In my early years in Oklahoma
City, I had so much going on.
All this shit is happening
in your brain and around you.
All this shit is happening
in your brain and around you.
I had to figure out
how to channel it.
Had to figure out
how to use it.
REPORTER: There is so much
unknown here for these players.
REPORTER: There is so much
unknown here for these players.
COMMENTATOR: I think as far
as the racial injustice,
I think that's where
a lot of the struggle is
for a lot of athletes,
and a lot of our hearts
are with our people.
No justice, no peace!
Listen, it's not
an ideal situation.
We're trying to find a way
to our own normal
in the middle of a pandemic,
and now with
enormous social unrest.
Really what's being
asked of these players now,
help us get back to the normal
that we've enjoyed,
largely at your expense.
As we work through
these issues,
I can understand
how some players may feel
that it's not for them.
I mean, it will entail
enormous sacrifice.
[ball bouncing]
Hey!
REPORTER: The NBA season
is set to resume July 31st
in Orlando, Florida.
Unfortunate timing.
COVID-19 cases
continue to mount
COVID-19 cases
continue to mount
in the state of Florida
at an alarming rate.
[lights click]
I was used to him
leaving every couple of days
and then coming back,
but I'm definitely not excited
about him being gone
but I'm definitely not excited
about him being gone
for the remainder
of the season.
I think it's crazy, actually,
and I'm not as supportive.
But I don't want
to further upset him,
so I voice
my opinions sparingly,
because I already know
it's hard for him, so.
because I already know
it's hard for him, so.
I want to go on
the airplane too.
I wanna come after breakfast.
I know. You can't come
with me this time, buddy.
Daddy got to go
play basketball.
You can watch me on TV.
I have no idea
what's going to happen.
I'm nervous about COVID.
I'm nervous about how
you know, all the guys are
gonna just be gone for so long.
Noah, you want to take a break?
Come give daddy
a hug before I go bye-bye?
-Yeah.
-Okay.
Big squeeze. Big squeeze.
[inaudible]
I want a big squeeze, that's
why. Can I get a big squeeze?
[baby crying]
[kids crying]
[kids crying]
I'll miss you. I love you.
Sugar, are you ready?
Yeah.
Are you excited?
Am I excited to do what?
NINA:
To see all your teammates.
I'm gonna be with them
for three months.
NINA: So, you're
not excited to see them?
I don't mind seeing them,
but, you know, I'm not like...
I don't mind seeing them,
but, you know, I'm not like...
jumping up and down, and shit.
You're not very excited.
Just a little excited.
I feel like we were forced
to grow up very quickly,
so a lot of the things that
most people might not
think about
or worry about at age 19,
we had to think
about those things.
Especially Russell.
He's constantly been someone
that needed to have boundaries
He's constantly been someone
that needed to have boundaries
and have his walls up,
so that, in turn, I feel like,
and have his walls up,
so that, in turn, I feel like,
made him shift
and change his focus inward
with his close circle.
Are you at least
going to miss us?
I know you see us
all the time, but...
Go.
-Oh, my gosh.
-You drive--
You talk about the people
on the freeway, you the one!
Why are you in such
a hurry to get rid of me?
Don't you want
to cherish our time together?
Depends.
Of course. Of course, I do.
Okay, good.
You better change your tone.
Better yet, actually,
take your time. No rush.
Thank you. You better change
your tone, that's for sure.
Thank you. You better change
your tone, that's for sure.
My wife, she is, one word...
My wife, she is, one word...
Selfless.
She's sacrificed more than
anybody that I know because of
anybody that I know because of
the basketball life I'm in.
Hi, I'm here to drop off...
She sacrificed her goals that
she wanted to do to be able to
She sacrificed her goals that
she wanted to do to be able to
share my dream, and for me,
I never ever
take that for granted.
She's my personal driver.
You know what, next time,
guess what you're going to do,
you're going to take an Uber.
Clearly
I'm better than an Uber.
I can't hear you,
the plane is too loud.
Bye.
I want to make it
known to her that
I want to make it
known to her that
her sacrifices are
well worth it for our family,
and I want to make sure
that I do
everything in my power
to make sure that
I'm the best at what I do.
REPORTER: First, how eager are
you to get back on the court
with your teammates
and get back to playing
after such a long layoff?
RUSSELL: Man, very eager.
I'd be lying
if I wouldn't say I was.
I'd be lying
if I wouldn't say I was.
[sneakers squeaking]
[sneakers squeaking]
The thrill I get off competing,
to me, it's unmatched.
The thrill I get off competing,
to me, it's unmatched.
We live for those moments.
We live for them.
We live for those moments.
We live for them.
There ain't no bigger fan
of Russell Westbrook than me.
This dude is an assassin.
One of the most violently
competitive basketball players
in the National
Basketball Association.
He doesn't cheat you,
never with effort
and never with greatness.
Here's the question,
you going to win?
COMMENTATOR: We hold Westbrook
to a very high standard,
because we see the talent.
My attitude never changes.
It never will.
My attitude never changes.
It never will.
I'm just playing my ass off
and leaving everything
I got on the floor,
not taking a night off,
a play off,
not taking a game for granted.
I just go all out.
And I think, for me,
it's become my biggest strength
and my biggest weakness,
it's become my biggest strength
and my biggest weakness,
because at times
it could look reckless,
it can look out of control,
it can look...
like I don't know
what I'm doing.
It can look selfish.
COMMENTATOR: There it is,
the pull up.
And Westbrook one for five.
He's taken half of
the shots so far.
I think there is consequence
sometimes to feeling like,
I can do it alone.
I can make the play.
I can be Superman
in this moment.
And I think he learned that
as his career went on.
COMMENTATOR: Westbrook
out of control. Turns it over.
To try to bring that back
a little bit has been, I think,
one of the things he's been
working on his entire career,
trying to control
that level of fire,
and that level of intensity.
and that level of intensity.
But it's hard because
when he's in his mindset,
when he's going full steam
ahead, he only knows one way.
I think it's a feeling, a mode,
that he's got to balance,
right, because in games where
he'll try
to get people involved,
he will all of
a sudden feel like,
"I'm losing my Russness."
Without that, he's not Russ,
and we're not that team.
There are games
where I'm all over the place
and it may not be so good.
COMMENTATOR: That won't go.
Westbrook out of control.
COMMENTATOR: That won't go.
Westbrook out of control.
Westbrook really struggling.
That's another turnover.
But, there are games
where I'm all over the place
and it's the best thing
that ever happened.
and it's the best thing
that ever happened.
COMMENTATOR: Explosive speed
is not diminished.
I have so much pride
in wanting to see,
in wanting to be successful,
in wanting to be the best,
in wanting to be successful,
in wanting to be the best,
sometimes it takes
control of me,
but it all comes
from a great place.
COMMENTATOR: LeBron James and
the Lakers one win away from
COMMENTATOR: LeBron James and
the Lakers one win away from
getting back to
the Conference Finals,
as they've won the last
three games in this series
and have a 3-1 lead
as we get set for game five.
and have a 3-1 lead
as we get set for game five.
I don't want to come off
as like an alkie
or anything like that,
but I know how
to make a martini.
COMMENTATOR: The Lakers were
so impressive in game four,
the Rockets just the opposite.
It was
a disappointing performance.
James Harden
only had 21 points.
But another guy that's got to
be better is Russell Westbrook.
He's got to be better
for this team to survive,
and it starts with tonight.
Even though he's playing,
he's a little bit injured,
he doesn't like to talk
about it and make it a thing,
because he doesn't like
people feeling sorry for him,
or whatever the case may be.
But he's still
struggling with that.
I'm just been hoping
he can get in a rhythm
I'm just been hoping
he can get in a rhythm
and just have fun. I think
that's when he's at his best.
COMMENTATOR: The last time
Westbrook and James
were in Miami, and they were
going into the locker room...
MAN: I knew they was going
to bring that up. Got to.
MAN: I knew they was going
to bring that up. Got to.
COMMENTATOR: They'll be back.
They'll win championships.
The players sometimes are
the last ones to understand...
He's still at the peak
of his career in the NBA.
He's still at the peak
of his career in the NBA.
Take one game at a time.
That's all we can do.
Take one game at a time.
That's all we can do.
Come on, Russ. Move.
Man.
Russ ain't scoring.
I ain't worried
about his scoring.
I'm talking about scoring.
I'm talking about
everything, though.
He got to do everything,
and he know that.
Just do that other stuff.
You have games like this.
This is the NBA.
If you're not a superstar,
you can't have
a game like this.
So he's a superstar player.
He knows how to come back
and bounce back
and help his team win.
You gotta do better, homie.
Way better.
Do something, bro.
Basketball is an up and
down game. It's about rhythm.
Basketball is an up and
down game. It's about rhythm.
We didn't have enough rhythm,
and my son was
a part of that rhythm.
His rhythm was
a little off today, so...
His rhythm was
a little off today, so...
I think he's okay.
I just think he just needs
to find himself again,
and once he find himself,
he'll be okay.
COMMENTATOR: Now the Rockets
will just dribble it out
and the Los Angeles Lakers
are back in the Western
Conference Finals as they
eliminate the Houston Rockets
in five games.
And the final score
for tonight's game...
[static]
[static]
[light piano music]
[light piano music]
MAN: Its being reported
that Russ wants out of Houston
MAN: Its being reported
that Russ wants out of Houston
because he wants a bigger role.
COMMENTATOR:
He's a force of nature,
but he needs the ball and
he needs to be the lead dog,
and if he can't be lead dog...
SECOND COMMENTATOR:
Russell Westbrook, at times,
is the reason why
his team doesn't win.
COMMENTATOR: There's
no way he's gonna win a ring.
I'm not even
sure what his future in
this league is right now.
COMMENTATOR: I don't
see him as a missing piece
of a championship team.
COMMENTATOR: I think
he plays in a tunnel that,
"This is what I do
and I'm gonna do it
and I'm not gonna change it."
COMMENTATOR: That kind
of embrace me personality.
[commentators
talking over each other]
[commentators
talking over each other]
RUSSELL: I still play with
the same edge, the same rage,
RUSSELL: I still play with
the same edge, the same rage,
but internally I am at
a place of peace because
but internally I am at
a place of peace because
I understand there are
so many more
important things in life.
INTERVIEWER: Do you think
you're a better player now
INTERVIEWER: Do you think
you're a better player now
that you have
this peace inside of you?
I'm a better person, and that's
what's most important to me.
The player is...
people are going to scrutinize,
The player is...
people are going to scrutinize,
they're going to love,
they're going to hate,
but the person is
who I'm more concerned with
and that's me being myself.
And there are times where
I felt like I was losing that
because I was trying so hard
to prove everybody wrong.
And now I'm in a position
and a space in my mind
where mentally
I don't need to do that.
COMMENTATOR: Let's go through
the monster deal
from the NBA last night,
the Rockets and the Wizards.
from the NBA last night,
the Rockets and the Wizards.
Next time somebody touch my go,
that's going to be
their you know what.
Here we go, come on. Now.
Move! Move!
Oh, shit!
[speaking indistinctly]
I'm happy to be back
with Coach Brooks.
Him being my, I would say,
first second coach,
he kind of seen me grow up
in Oklahoma City.
We've always stayed tight.
[crowd cheering]
[crowd cheering]
One thing that I always
remember from Coach Brooks that
One thing that I always
remember from Coach Brooks that
been sticking with me since...
day one of him taking over
is that we had
conversations about
how angry
and how intense I was.
[shouting]
[shouting]
How he felt like I was so
uptight and wanted to win
How he felt like I was so
uptight and wanted to win
so, so bad.
He always told me...
so, so bad.
He always told me...
to smile. Very simple.
To this day, that's something
that I catch myself doing,
just taking a second to, okay,
let's just smile a little bit
just taking a second to, okay,
let's just smile a little bit
just to calm my ass down.
COMMENTATOR: This is
all improvisation by Russell.
I don't hear
any music playing, Kenny.
Obviously he hears
a different drummer.
Keeps the game fun, and
you always want to make sure
you're having
fun while playing.
Obviously, you want
to win, you want to compete,
but you want
to have fun while doing it.
COMMENTATOR: You look
at his numbers, Clyde,
his 151 career triple doubles.
He has five this season
with the Wizards.
He has five this season
with the Wizards.
SECOND COMMENTATOR:
The way he's playing right now,
and this run that he's had
down the stretch,
he could go for now
the record by Oscar Robinson
for the most triple doubles
in NBA history.
If anybody says they saw
this coming, they're lying.
Ain't nobody saw this coming.
I mean, he makes
triple doubles like
I mean, he makes
triple doubles like
it's like a regular stat.
When I had
my first triple double,
I think I had
my family dinners and parties
and it was like a big thing.
You know what I'm saying?
So he does this,
like, every single game.
MAN: I'm just glad
we didn't go into overtime
because Russell was about
to get quadruple double.
Teams are game planning
for him every single night
and he's still getting it done,
and to do it night in
and night out and
average it for a whole season,
and night out and
average it for a whole season,
and then do it again,
and break all time records
and continue to set
all time records,
I think it blows
a lot of people's minds.
COMMENTATOR: And there it is,
Russell Westbrook
has just surpassed
Oscar Robertson.
has just surpassed
Oscar Robertson.
It lasted 47 years,
and now Russell Westbrook
stands there all alone.
I mean, 182. I had five.
I had five in my career.
[cheering]
He relentless.
That's it. He relentless.
COMMENTATOR: How do we put him
into some sort of
historical perspective?
MAN: You can no longer
tell the story of basketball
MAN: You can no longer
tell the story of basketball
-without Russel Westbrook.
-Without including Russel.
-That's right.
-He is Mr. Triple Double,
and that will be his legacy.
Even if he goes on
to win a ring,
he will still be more known
for averaging a triple double
he will still be more known
for averaging a triple double
in four seasons,
than for winning
a championship.
It's really hard to
win a championship.
I've been to four finals,
and we won one. It gets tough.
But I do think legacy-wise,
it means a lot to people,
but it's not what defines
Russell Westbrook.
Russell has been able
to do things
that are historic
in the game of basketball.
And we all teach kids
when you play,
how can you impact the game?
And most kids just think, I can
impact the game by scoring.
And most kids just think, I can
impact the game by scoring.
I think there
should be more players
that have well-rounded games.
He can definitely leave
the game with his head high
and be counted as one of
the greatest guards
and be counted as one of
the greatest guards
that ever played.
How could you not,
when you're mentioned
with Oscar Robinson, right?
That MVP thing,
they can't take it away.
That MVP thing,
they can't take it away.
Say what
they want to about you,
but they cannot take it away.
This ring he give me, this
is his first championship ring
in the Olympics.
I still wear it every day.
Every day.
Because it reminds me of
what he did, how he did it.
MAN: He inspires so many
kids who come from
where he comes from.
If he could do it,
then I could do it.
We proud of him around here,
whether he win one or not.
[city din]
[city din]
COMMENTATOR: Draft night
just got a lot more exciting.
Russell Westbrook
is going to be a Laker.
For a Southern California kid,
this is a dream come true.
To go back,
play for the Lakers,
and now partner up with
Anthony Davis and LeBron James.
What do you mean?
Okay, whatever. That's what.
Okay, whatever. That's what.
NINA: I'm going to celebrate
and it's going to be wild.
INTERVIEWER:
You seem kind of in disbelief.
He gets into these zones.
It's funny.
He gets into these zones.
It's funny.
When he gets his mind
set on something...
When he gets his mind
set on something...
Laker Nation need to stand up
right now. You know why?
Laker Nation need to stand up
right now. You know why?
Because they're moving on up
like the Jeffersons right now.
Because they're moving on up
like the Jeffersons right now.
I'm telling you.
It's a crazy feeling. I was
just trying to figure out...
everything, being back home.
But the only thing
I can think about is, like,
growing up in LA,
watching the Lakers,
growing up in LA,
watching the Lakers,
Kobe. That's the first thing
that came to mind, honestly.
Kobe. That's the first thing
that came to mind, honestly.
All those memories and all
those things come back to play
and come back full circle. It's
just opportunity in itself.
Obviously
it's big for everybody else,
but just internally, for myself
and our family,
we just very grateful.
It'll be crazy though.
REPORTER:
Russell, do you feel like
you have anything to prove?
Uh, no, I don't.
When I got drafted, that was
me proving people wrong.
When I was able to go
to UCLA from the inner city,
When I was able to go
to UCLA from the inner city,
that was me
proving people wrong.
Just making it out the hood,
was proving people wrong.
I don't need
to do that anymore.
He's at a point in his life
right now to where
it doesn't even matter
what people think.
No one's perfect.
No one's perfect.
You're doing a great job.
Continue to do it.
For all that's gone on
in his life up to this point,
he's still able to maintain
not only a sense of peace,
but an understanding
of who he is.
Being yourself is
the best thing you can do,
because there are
so many things
that can be said about you that
you can let
take control of your life,
and I feel like when
you're authentic,
those things can't bother you.
Things that people say
or do doesn't affect you.
What you see
is what you get with Russell.
There's no sugar-coating.
There's no gimmicks.
He's not trying to pretend.
He's not trying
to please anyone.
This is who he is.
Russell going to play his game
how he want to play it,
and the NBA know and all
the players know on every team.
There's no time where
nobody can see me as like,
"Russ is being...
Russ is being...
Russ." And that's...
how my whole
either career and my life is,
because there's really nobody
to compare, in my opinion.
because there's really nobody
to compare, in my opinion.
You can't really say,
"Russ is being like. uh...
You can't really say,
"Russ is being like. uh...
Russ," and that's just
how I like to keep it.
Russ," and that's just
how I like to keep it.
Cool.
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music]
Let me apologize to Russell
Westbrook, because
Let me apologize to Russell
Westbrook, because
in game four he was
off the charts. 43 points.
in game four he was
off the charts. 43 points.
He put on a show.
I see now that he has
to play this way, Michael,
for the Thunder
to have a chance to win.
So stay with playing that
aggressive, offensive game.
He's not
a traditional point guard.
Just do your thing, Russell.
Don't listen to Magic Johnson.