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.
The MJ PR machine is impressive ngl.
His first 3 postseasons he got bounced first round. Swept twice with a 1-9 total record. Next 3 postseasons all got ended by DET. 6 straight postseasons of belt to ass before his 1st Finals trip and folks will be dead serious when they tell you that’s that’s more impressive than a Finals run in your very 1st postseason.
Like I said it’s reached the point where the PR machine around him is so unapologetically revisionist that it’s actually impressive now.
“Michael didn’t beat us. Rodman did”. Please don’t let these 24 year olds rewrite history like Worm to CHI wasn’t a monumental pick up. First Team All Defense and rebounding champ when CHI got him. SA just let him go bc they were sick of his shit.
Rodman mentioned in his biography that his refusal to guard Dream (bc he was tired of not being appreciated/respected while still always being asked to bail that defense out) at the request of Robinson and the coaches in that 95 SA-HOU series where Dream cooked Robinson and sent SA home was when SA finally washed their hands of him.
In an era where the final scores of playoff games were 88-83, a player who was singlehandedly manufacturing 17 possessions for his team with his rebounding was incredibly valuable. Don’t let them rewrite history.