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.
Step 1: Let the entire world know you are aggressively trying to move your Finals MVP for Giannis.
Step 2: Get to the finish line on the Giannis trade, but get cold feet because you don’t want to extend a top-5 player, so you miss out on Giannis.
Step 3: Now that your Finals MVP is rightfully disgruntled that you tried to trade him and the entire world knows you no longer can employ him, go trade him for washed up Paul George on a bad contract.
Flawless execution.
Kenyon Martin names power forwards better than Draymond Green:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Anthony Davis
Dirk Nowitzki
Charles Barkley
Kevin Garnett
Tim Duncan
Dennis Rodman
Karl Malone
Chris Webber
Amar’e Stoudemire
Chris Bosh
Rasheed Wallace
Pau Gasol
Elton Brand
Antawn Jamison
Zach Randolph
Carlos Boozer
David West
Jermaine O’Neal
Shawn Kemp
Derrick Coleman
Danny Manning
Larry Johnson
LaMarcus Aldridge
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
Al Jefferson
Drew Gooden
Josh Smith
Tim Thomas
Antoine Walker
Lamar Odom
Jason Williams
Horace Grant
Otis Thorpe
Paul Millsap
Juwan Howard
David Lee
Al Harrington
Rashard Lewis
Kevin McHale
Nene
Popeye Jones
Reggie Evans
(h/t @NBA__Courtside )