Sop

embrace the detours

[Sop @choL000]

Some legacies aren’t trophies or records. They’re what a player made you feel while you were lucky enough to watch them.

You really had to be there. 🐐 Thank you Russ!

[Russell Westbrook @russwest44]

Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end.

You had to be there. And now it’s over.

[NBARetweet @RTNBA]

Russell Westbrook reportedly had a two-year offer from the Wizards before retiring, per @TheSteinLine.

Westbrook ended the talks himself after the terms and/or role did not appeal to him.

Russ really walked away on his own terms.

[WF📍 @russwestfacts]

Rudy Gobert commenting on Russ retirement post tells you everything about Russell Westbrook

[Kevin Durant @KDTrey5]

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.

[William D. Hendrix 🏆 @SpecificNY]

That stretch of basketball Westbrook gave us right after KD left was some of the greatest underdog hoops I’ve ever seen in my life he really was so inspiring

[Pisou Na Linha | NBA 🏀🇧🇷 @pisounalinha]

Um dia, fizeram essa pergunta para Russell Westbrook.

“Qual será o peso se você não vencer um título antes de parar?”

A resposta define quem foi Russ como jogador e acima de tudo, como pessoa.

“Estarei feliz. Fui um campeão assim que cheguei a NBA. Cresci nas ruas, não vim de berço de ouro. Eu quero ser um campeão da NBA, mas eu não preciso ser um campeão da NBA… o meu legado mais importante está fora das quadras com a quantidade de pessoas que ajudei e sou capaz de impactar com a minha carreira”.

Não me entenda mal, Westbrook teve uma carreira GIGANTESCA.

- Jogador com mais triplos-duplos na história (209), maior sequência de triplos-duplos na história (11), maior número de triplos-duplos em uma temporada (42), maior número de temporadas com médias de triplo-duplo na história (4).

- Armador com mais pontos e rebotes em todos os tempos.

- MVP, 9x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, 3x líder de assistências da NBA, 2x cestinha.

- Top-5 em assistências na história da NBA, top-15 em pontos e roubos de bola.

- Maior cestinha da história do Oklahoma City Thunder, líder em triplos-duplos em OKC e Washington.

- Membro do time NBA75.

- Mais pontos na carreira do que Curry, Hakeem, Duncan, West, Iverson, Barkley, Wade e Bird.

- Mais rebotes na carreira do que Jokic, Giannis, Bird, Kemp, McAdoo, Webber, AD e Aldridge.

- Mais assistências na carreira do que Magic, Nash, Oscar, Isiah, Harden, Rondo, Parker e Jackson.

- Único jogador além de LeBron James com 25.000 pontos e 10.000 assistências na carreira.

Mas quanto mais eu reflito sobre tantos números, marcas e o legado gigantesco que Westbrook deixa para a NBA e para a geração como um todo, mais eu penso que seu maior legado na verdade é o tipo de pessoa que sempre foi.

E até nisso, muitas pessoas foram cruéis e injustas com ele, criando rumores de que era um “vampiro” em vestiários ou de que era um jogador que destruía ambientes de equipe.

No fim, você dificilmente vê uma entrevista ou alguém que fale mal de Westbrook… mesmo aqueles que foram ou são seus desafetos ao longo da vida.

Tantos jovens falam tantas coisas positivas de Westbrook, do quanto ele os ajudou, do quanto ele foi o melhor companheiro de equipe possível.

Você vê os comentários do vídeo que ele publicou pra anunciar a aposentadoria e você vê jogadores, ex-companheiros, jornalistas… todos exaltando não só uma carreira que não precisou de uma taça pra ser gigante, mas justamente a personalidade, o caráter, a filantropia, o tipo de apoio que Westbrook sempre deu com sua voz e atitudes a comunidade, as causas certas.

Chegar a conclusão de que este é seu maior legado aumenta meu gosto por ter gostado dele ao longo de toda a sua carreira, que foi gigante, das maiores que vimos nessa geração apesar de todos os pesares… mas que ainda é menor pelo tamanho do homem que ele demonstrou ser em várias ocasiões.

Precisamos corrigir essa injustiça que muitos cometeram, porque até nisso ele foi questionado.

Não só o basquete, mas muitos, devem muitas coisas a Russell Westbrook.

[𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒂𝒉 @isaiiahx]

Paul George officially congratulated Russell Westbrook an amazing career

Via IG (@ygtrece)

[Denver Nuggets @nuggets]

Here’s to a great career! Wishing you the best, Russ 💛

[Russ' TD ⚡ @RussFcb]

I don't think people understand how popular Russell Westbrook was in his peak, he had Taylor Swift congratulate him on winning MVP in 2017

[NBA @NBA]

All-time heart. All-time intensity. All-time passion.

Russell Westbrook, one of one 💯

[Russ @Wesbrik0]

Solo con decir que este tipo me hizo ver 82 partidos de los Wizards en una temporada explica lo que fue para mí. Si no sos su fan dificil de entender

[OKC THUNDER @okcthunder]

RUSSELL 💙 🧡

To a legend on and off the floor, congrats on retirement and thank you for everything you gave to the city @russwest44

[Spencer Jones @Skjones24_]

"Don't miss, rook."

That was my introduction to Russell Westbrook.

Summer before my first year in the league. All the guys in town are playing pickup. I hit the game-winning shot, but we have a rule that you have to validate a game winner by making a free throw to officially end the game.

After I made that shot, Russ chest-checked me with the ball at the free throw line. Got right in my ear, said it softly. "Don't miss, rook." Then he stood right next to me. Not moving. Just standing there.

That was the intensity. It wasn't mean or personal. That's just how he was.
He did not want to lose. And if I missed that free throw, the game keeps going.

I hit it. And he shook his head in light approval, like OK, maybe he can handle the moment.

That intensity never turned off.
Not in pickup, not in practice, not in film, not even in some simple arguments. The energy, the joy, the competitiveness was on every single day.
And I tried to emulate that on the court because it was impossible to be around it and not raise your own standard.

Russ taught me the ins and outs of the game: the politics from the front office down, how to carry yourself, and not only how to handle pressure, but embrace it.

And there were the rookie duties too. Getting him meals, handling what needed to be handled on the road. But that was well worth the price of admission to learn next to one of the all-time greats.

A lot of what I've accomplished and my longevity in this league traces back to that first year learning from him.

Congrats on a legendary career, Russ! @russwest44

[San Antonio Spurs @spurs]

Congrats on retirement @russwest44! Wishing you all the best in your next chapter.

[Russ' TD ⚡ @RussFcb]

Giannis' IG reply on Westbrook's retirement post ♥️

[Washington Wizards @WashWizards]

Congrats to an all-time great @russwest44 💙

[LA Clippers @LAClippers]

Congrats on retirement, Russ! We’re honored to be part of your legendary career ❤️💙

[liv @livmoods]

The respect was ALWAYS louder than the disrespect to those who know ball. ONE OF ONE.

thank you for changing the game 🐐

[JDJackson @TheWestWolfPod]

I'm getting a lot of DMs telling me thank you for covering Russell Westbrook for just shy of 2 decades. I'll try to answer everyone.

However I want to say Thank you back to all of you. Russell Westbrook and his play brought so many people across the globe together. I truly care about people so I was able to use my love for his game and his WhyNot mantra to touch lives via social media. I want you all to know you touched my life in a positive way also. Love every single one of you! Russell Westbrook the player and person made it easier for people who may have been struggling, to find a place they belong and felt good about. I just used that platform to bring us all together the best way I knew how.

[Tatiana @Tatianaclinares]

I wanted him to win a championship with us so bad 😭