I recently signed a 2-year, $12M NBA contract.
Looking back, 3 decisions shaped how I got here:
1. Turned down an extra ~$250K to transfer for my 5th year and stayed at Stanford.
2. Chose to go undrafted instead of getting drafted so I could pick the best situation. That led me to Denver.
3. Turned down a ~$2M guaranteed extension to bet on myself in free agency. I risked injury, poor play, or getting nothing.
I ended up earning roughly 3x that offer.
Three times I had the opportunity to take the money/status in front of me.
Three times I chose the option I thought gave me the best long-term expected value.
$250K → No. Getting drafted → No. $2M guaranteed → No.
Eventually → $12M.
Sometimes the biggest risk is taking the safe option too early.
#NBA #Sportsbusiness #Finance
I remember asking assistant coach Mo Cheeks, what’s harder to do? Workout after practice or before?? I only asked cuz by time I would get to the gym, Russ was already done in the morning and I usually got mine in after practice. Mo like, “coming in before practice is probably harder”…since then, it’s been my routine….a lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical. He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up. For 18 years. This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything. Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on…keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. I don’t care what happens, can’t erase what it was…The first YNs, finals run in our early 20s, all star games, seeing each other get injured and bounce back, the bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments, the whole thing, memorable!! …to the whole Westbrook family, Nina, the kids, mama Westbrook, big Russ, Ray, Donnell, everybody from luezinger high and ucla and many more that I’m forgettin, much love and Congratulations on a iconic career.
❤️🩹🇦🇷 Leo Messi: “Dad, you kept asking me to play in one last World Cup… just days before it began was when your condition got worse”.
“It was the first time you weren’t going to be there with me at tournament… but Mom kept telling me you were going to get better and that you’d be well enough to travel”.
“I kept telling you we were going to reach the World Cup final so you could make the trip, this was my mission once again”.
“After every match, I waited for and missed your message. That’s when I realized how serious the situation really was”.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about going as far as possible, give you more time and the chance to watch one of the games”.
“We reached the final, but you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you another one. I couldn’t”.
“My legs just couldn’t give me any more”.
“This time I tried to push beyond what my body could handle, but I couldn’t”.
“I never managed to feel physically right”.
“We didn’t become champions Dad, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play in it… as you told me, always”.