Dejounte Murray believes that Russell Westbrook is the greatest point guard of all time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Russell Westbrook shocked the basketball world when he announced his retirement in the summer of 2026. That ended one of the best careers of the modern era, especially for a point guard. Unfortunately for Westbrook, he did not win a championship, but it seems his legacy is doing well amongst his peers.
Dejounte Murray is a standout point guard over the past few years, and he is never shy about giving his thoughts. This time, he made sure to give the Oklahoma City Thunder legend his flowers, to the point that he is calling the 2017 MVP the greatest point guard of all time.
Throughout his career, Murray has looked up to a lot of players. Now that he is with the New Orleans Pelicans, Murray has integrated plenty of lessons he's learned from a lot of top-tier point guards in the league's history. For him, Westbrook is at the peak of the position he plays.
Westbrook has an all-time legacy, but a lot of people would argue that he is not better than some players like Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Stephen Curry, who are considered by many as the greatest point guards in NBA history.

#time

One-time NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray had a bold take about Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook made headlines in the summer after he announced his retirement from the NBA. After playing 18 seasons, the nine-time All-Star decided to start a new chapter in his life. He's considered to be one of the best point guards of all time.
According to Murray, however, Westbrook should be considered the greatest point guard. Although he respects other great guards, the New Orleans Pelicans guard recognized the nine-time All-NBA's passion and tenacity when he's on the floor.
Murray brought this up in an interview with ClutchPoints' Tomer Azarly.
"His work ethic, his passion for the game, and the way he plays the game, that's how the game is supposed to be played," Murray said.

#westbrook #game #nine #guards

LeBron James has spent more than two decades setting records that once looked out of reach. Yet former NBA center Olden Polynice believes one of the game's rare statistical feats should have belonged to James long before Russell Westbrook made it his own.
Polynice is not questioning James' greatness. His argument is almost the opposite. He believes James had so much size and all-around ability that failing to post a full-season triple-double stands out as a strange omission from an otherwise historic career.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Polynice said James should have reached the milestone before Westbrook ever did. He pointed to James' unusual combination of strength, skill and playmaking as the reason.
Jan 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) react during overtime against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
"I love LeBron. I really do. I think he's one of the greatest ever. Ever," Polynice said. "What he's doing right now we've never seen before. And I won't even get into the off the court. He's by himself over there."

#james #lebron

LeBron James has faced criticism throughout his basketball career. On Friday, former NBA lottery pick Olden Polynice took aim at LBJ for falling short of a certain statistical feat.
Appearing on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Polynice (who was drafted eighth overall by the Chicago Bulls in 1987) gave James his props but proceeded to chastise the 22-time NBA All-Star.
"I love LeBron. I really do. I think he's one of the greatest ever… But, at the same time, I can still be critical of him on some things. One in particular: I thought LeBron should have averaged a triple-double way before Russell Westbrook. That's my personal opinion."
Polynice, who transitioned to coaching after playing 15 seasons in the NBA, went on to make an explosive claim about LBJ's career.
"Believe it or not, this is going to be the weirdest thing ever uttered. I believe LeBron James underachieved."

#believe

Jared McCain gets honest about how he keeps learning from Russell Westbrook originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Russell Westbrook's retirement caught a lot of people by surprise because it felt like he still had a lot to give to basketball. However, this has led to people speaking about how he has already given a lot to both the sport and its players.
One of those players who benefited from Westbrook's guidance is Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain. A few years ago, McCain played for Westbrook's team in a Nike EYBL tournament, and since then, it seems McCain has kept learning from the former MVP.
McCain is now a regular rotational player on the Thunder, the team that Westbrook is most known for. It is a bit of a full-circle moment for McCain because he learned a lot from Westbrook over the years.
Of course, they don't have similar play styles, but McCain still learned a lot from Westbrook in other facets of the game. Since Westbrook is one of the players who was considered unshakeable mentally, that has played a factor in McCain's approach to the game.

#players #sporting #since

DETROIT — The Motor City Cruise — the G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons — announced on Thursday the hiring of Steve Scalzi as their new head coach. Scalzi will replace Jamelle McMillan at the start of the 2026-27 season, becoming the third head coach in the franchise's history.
Scalzi has worked as an ***** istant coach for the Pistons for the past three seasons. Renowned for his player development skills, he has been instrumental in developing players such as Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson. In July, he also served as head coach for the Pistons during the 2026 NBA Summer League tournament.
Scalzi's role as coach of the Cruise marks his return to the NBA's professional developmental league. He began his career as an ***** istant coach with the then-Tulsa 66ers (Oklahoma City Blue), the Oklahoma City Thunder's G League affiliate.
At that time, the Blue were part of the NBA D-League. As one of the franchise's primary player development coaches, Scalzi helped a handful of players receive promotions around the league during the 2013-14 season.
Scalzi's success later led him to join the Thunder's coaching staff in 2014, where he held several roles during his seven-year tenure. His most memorable responsibility was helping develop future Hall of Famers Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

#pistons #cruise

Ben Simmons is making a comeback to the NBA after sitting out last season with injuries, agreeing to a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.
A person familiar with the deal confirmed to The ***** ociated Press that he will sign with Sacramento. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn't been announced.
ESPN first reported the move and said Simmons would be paid $3.5 million.
The 30-year-old from Australia is a former No. 1 draft pick, three-time All-Star and Rookie of the Year, but he has struggled to perform and stay healthy in recent years. He sat out last season while dealing with back and leg injuries after ending the 2024-25 season in a reserve role for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sacramento is coming off a 22-60 season and is trying to rebuild around rookie Darius Acuff Jr., who was picked seventh in the draft after a stellar freshman season at Arkansas. The Kings were looking for veteran help after waiving DeMar DeRozan and deciding not to bring back Russell Westbrook. Those two scored the most points last season for Sacramento.

#season #sacramento #deal

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic has been among the best players in the NBA throughout the 2020s, but the MVP award has continued to elude him. Doncic finished fourth in MVP voting last season despite winning the scoring ***** le, but ESPN's Tim MacMahon believes he could finally win in 2027.
MacMahon shared the pathway for Doncic to take home the Michael Jordan Trophy on the latest episode of The Hoop Collective podcast.
"I think it's pretty well set up for Luka to potentially win his first," MacMahon said.
Co-host Brian Windhorst pointed out it helps to have a narrative, and Doncic has one. Just like how Kevin Durant leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder helped Russell Westbrook's case in 2017, LeBron James departing for the Philadelphia 76ers this summer helps his.
"And a narrative where the expectations for the Lakers are as low as they've been since LeBron arrived," MacMahon added.

#Lakers

The summer of 2026 has been a big one for the NBA. Besides major trades and ownership drama, we've seen several players call it a career, including Russell Westbrook and Kyle Lowry. Of course, there's also point guard legend Chris Paul, who retired back in February after being released by the Clippers.
In the case of Paul and Westbrook specifically, their NBA stories may be over now, but the fun is only just getting started. According to NBA veteran Matt Barnes, the former superstars are planning to link up for an epic vacation, where they will bring their wives to honor their storied careers.
"I just talked to CP two days ago," said Matt Barnes on 'All the Smoke.' "He and [Russell Westbrook] are going on vacation. They're taking their wives on vacation. So, two of the greatest PGs are going to kick it up in the sand, have some drinks, and really just celebrate because this is the end of Russ and CP's careers. **** of a run, bro. One of the most feared point guards we've ever seen. I remember him in his heyday with the Lob City team; he was a monster."
It's never easy for an athlete to walk away from their favorite sport, but it's a moment that comes for every player. What comes next varies from person to person, but it really depends on how involved they want to be with the game. While some ex-players (like Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter) opt for media roles, others (like Jason Kidd) accept a coaching job. There are also those like Tim Duncan, who stay out of the limelight entirely.
We don't yet know which category Russ and Paul will fall into, but it's likely they need this vacation after the way they ended things. For Chris, his final stint with the Clippers was supposed to be a final send-off for his career, but things turned ugly when they struggled to win games. As much as he tried to right the ship, Paul alienated himself from the organization by overestimating his authority and making the wrong impression in the locker room.

#paul #westbrook #like #clippers

Kevin Durant admits he struggled to accept Russell Westbrook's retirement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Back in the day, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were among the best partnerships in the league. It was a legendary duo that helped the Oklahoma City Thunder become perennial contenders with them as the superstars. Unfortunately, that came to an end when Kevin Durant made a big decision to join the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
It was a sad ending to one of the best duos in recent NBA history. That propelled Westbrook to become a bigger star, winning the MVP in 2017. Unfortunately, Westbrook ended up becoming an NBA journeyman in the later part of his career, eventually retiring in 2026.
Durant's departure from OKC was a sad one because everyone thought he and Westbrook would stay together and win a championship. Unfortunately, only Durant won a ***** le, and those two rings are disputed by a lot of people for being an easy way out for him.
Despite the animosity that stemmed from his exit, it seems that Durant and Westbrook are good friends. In fact, Westbrook is still quite friendly with Durant's mother, Wanda. It is a sad ending for one of this generation's best players, but it seems he made the right decision for him in the long-term future by stepping away on his terms.

#kevin #russell

High school football is back in the Gadsden area starting this week and the action is starting up Thursday, Aug. 27.
The AHSAA season officially got started last week, but a few Gadsden-area teams waited until this week to get going. That group is led by Hokes Bluff, which starts with Southside on Thursday, and Westbrook Christian, which travels down to Ashville. Cherokee County and Sand Rock both get started with traditional rivalries with Piedmont and Spring Garden, respectively.
The season runs through October before the playoffs start in November. The AHSAA Football championships are December 1-5 in Mobile, one of many changes this season. The biggest shakeup was the public-private split and ensuing fallout that created two classes and got rid of 7A.
Keep up with coverage closer to kick off on Thursday and Friday.

#area

Kevin Durant on Russell Westbrook retirement: It just hit me, man, because it's just like that's one of the first dudes you come in with and you was around every day to finally step out of this sh*t. You know what I'm saying? It's just like a lot of guys that's been younger than me or drafted after me have retired, but I wasn't as close to them as I was to Russell. Sharing the same. And then as somebody I felt like can still, you know what I'm saying? It surprised me, you know? So, yeah, it was one of those things that you can appreciate all the time spent and then you can somebody like Russ who's doing a lot off the court too, you know. I want to see what he does next.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kevin Durant says Russell Westbrook retirement affected him: It was one of the first dudes I came in with and was around every day

#russell #kevin #durant #westbrook

Brian Mason has never been shy in his views of Ashton Dulin's performance on special teams, calling the 29-year-old receiver veteran "one of the three-best special teams players in the NFL" last fall.
How much the Colts will be able to take advantage of those skills – on his most active days, Indianapolis uses his 4.4 speed as its primary gunner on punt coverage, as well as one of its two returners on kickoffs – may vary week-to-week, depending on the team's health across the board.
After last week's signing of six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, Dulin finds himself no longer in contention for one of the Colts' three starting wideout spots. Instead he's jockeying with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for fourth on the depth chart on a team whose star second-year tight end Tyler Warren makes Dulin or Westbrook-Ikhine the fifth receiving option at-best.
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Dulin has performed arguably the most consistently of Indianapolis' rotational wideouts in the preseason, all while taking very few reps on special teams. It gave the appearance the Colts planned to significantly reduce his role on punt and kick teams to preserve his energy and impact for offense. But with Allen's signing dropping Dulin a spot, the receiver who has just seven catches since the end of the 2022 campaign finds himself in virtually the same spot as the end of last season.

#ikhine #year

After Russell Westbrook announced his NBA retirement, the entire sports world remembered one of the most epic careers in recent history. Even though he walked away ringless, the NBA superstar was one of the era-defining figures in the 2010s.
When you think of that decade, you think of Westbrook. Alongside Kevin Durant, he co-starred on a constant **** le contender. The Oklahoma City Thunder were frequently one of the main characters. The all-time triple-double leader was a one-time MVP winner and a perennial All-NBA member. He completely lit up the box score.
NBA legends — past and present — have spent the last two weeks commemorating Westbrook's mythical run. He's a future Hall-of-Famer and part of a pantheon of basketball gods. Someone else he shares company with in that regard? Tracy McGrady.
McGrady already sits in the Hall of Fame. He's one of the more dynamic scorers of the 2000s. The seven-time All-Star might also be ringless, but the basketball universe fondly remembers his impact on the game. He recently went on his 'Cousins' podcast with Vince Carter to make a bold statement.
"20-20-20, bro? That's only been done twice. Like, I know Kobe had 81. Bam had 83. I seen Luka hit 70. I seen Donovan Mitchell hit 70. I seen Book hit 70," McGrady said. "But the 20-20-20 to me is probably the greatest individual performance that I've seen out of a player from Westbrook."

#time #think

By Tom Westbrook and Johann M Cherian
Aug 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar hovered near multi-month lows on Monday in a market unsettled by the U.S. Treasury's promise to buy back more long-dated bonds, while traders awaited details ‌of sanctions on Iran and for policy speeches this week in the U.S. and **** an.
Trade tensions weighed on the ‌Canadian dollar, which weakened 0.5% to C$1.3836 per dollar, after Washington imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, with Canada retaliating in kind.
With the dollar having slid broadly in recent days the euro was trading at $1.1665, down a touch on the day, but in sight of last week's three-month top.
Sterling was likewise marginally softer at $1.3628 but near its six-month high of $1.3675 also hit on Friday. The **** anese yen was a touch weaker at 159.25 per dollar.

#dollar #touch #johann #reuters

LeBron James is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he made his mark on the franchise during his eight years with it. He consistently played at a high level during that time, even if certain aspects of his game had clearly slipped, and he delivered an NBA championship in 2020.
As we take a look at James' greatest performances as a member of the Lakers in chronological order, we go back to his highest-scoring game with L.A., which took place on March 5, 2022.
The 2021-22 season was initially supposed to be a return to glory for a Lakers team that won the 2020 NBA championship, only to succumb to injuries and lose in the first round of the playoffs the following season. Los Angeles had traded for Russell Westbrook, apparently at James' behest, but he never fit in, and by midseason, it became clear that this experiment wasn't going to work.
It seemed like whatever could go wrong did go wrong that season. The team could never string together any momentum or stay above .500, and by the time the All-Star break had passed, there seemed to be a feeling that it was merely playing out the string.
But on one Saturday night in March, things seemed just right enough with the Lakers, and it was mostly because of James.

#james #march #game

Nevertheless, Beverley believes that media narratives played a big role in the generally negative public perception of Westbrook, which forced the future Hall of Famer to call it quits instead. "I'm going to be honest. I felt like he had a lot of game left. I feel like he played really well last season. I think the media killed his game. I'm going to be honest. I think the media is so strong that it allowed fans to call him names and have opinions about his game, which also forced team owners, GMs, and presidents to look at him a certain way," Beverley said on the newest episode of his The Pat Bev Show.
BasketNews
Reggie Morris Jr. won't just remember the way Russell Westbrook changed basketball. Even after Westbrook's retirement, his former high school coach chooses to see the way the former Lawndale Leuzinger star is changing the city that raised him. That's even more important than the NBA record 209 triple-doubles. "I believe that his impact on this community," Morris said, "is far greater than his basketball impact." — 8/18/2026 Los Angeles Times
Even during the season, Westbrook made himself available to players on his EYBL teams as often as possible, visiting between playoff runs or at least supporting them through social media. "They feel his presence when he's there, and he's hands-on in the situation," Morris said. "He's not just giving money; he's trying to help the kids, give them a different aspect or a different take on what he knows and give it back to them." — 8/18/2026 Los Angeles Times
"He didn't back down from anybody," said Morris, now the director of Westbrook's Team Why Not EYBL team and the boys' basketball head coach at Redondo Union. "He was fearless. He was relentless. There's never really been a player quite like him. I would say he kind of has, like, a Charles Barkley, a young Charles Barkley spirit, where he was just passionate and fiery. He wasn't PC. He wore his emotions on his sleeves, and he didn't really apologize to anyone for how he felt or what he was there to do." — 8/18/2026 Los Angeles Times

#angeles #times

Another veteran receiver who had been available for months in free agency has found a new home.
Via Jordan Schultz, Keenan Allen has agreed to terms with the Colts. It's reportedly a one-year deal worth up to $8.32 million.
A third-round pick in 2013, Allen has played for the Chargers for 11 years, the Bears for one year, and the Chargers again in 2025. He has 1,055 career regular-season catches for 12,051 yards and 70 touchdowns.
Allen finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting, and he has made it to the Pro Bowl six times — most recently in 2023.
He joins a depth chart that includes Alec Pierce (who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list with an ankle injury), Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Anthony Gould, and Laquon Treadwell.

#chargers #keenan #offensive #rookie

The Colts are expected to sign longtime Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, a source confirmed to IndyStar. It adds a six-time Pro Bowler who in eight of his 13 seasons in the NFL has caught at least six touchdowns and at least 80 ***** seven times – including last year.
Allen lands in Indianapolis after a one-season return to Los Angeles in 2025 to rejoin the franchise that drafted him 76th overall in 2013 and where he spent the first 11 seasons of his career – and 12 of 13 overall. Allen was traded to the Chicago Bears in March of 2024 and played a single season with the NFC North team before opting to sign with the Chargers just over a year ago during Los Angeles' training camp as a free agent.
That one-year deal made the 34-year-old again a free agent this spring, and he remains unquestionably the top free agent wideout on the market – not to mention seemingly a premier fit in head coach Shane Steichen's offense.
For a coach who prizes separation at the top of routes and a trusted pair of hands above just about anything else, Allen still fits the bill as he nears the end of his career. Though he's been one nearly his entire career, the Colts don't need Allen to be a No. 1 receiver with unquestioned WR1 Alec Pierce ascending to a more all-around this role this year coming off a season where then-rookie tight end Tyler Warren led the Colts in targets (112) and two seasons ago when starting slot receiver Josh Downs led the team in receptions (72).
But after the loss of Michael Pittman Jr. in March to a salary-dump trade to the Steelers, it was widely-believed the Colts had not done enough to replace not only his production – 80 catches for 784 yards and seven touchdowns – but his veteran leadership and presence in a room where the oldest players – free agent signee Nick Westbrooke-Ikhine (29 years old), Ashton Dulin (29) and Laquon Treadwell (31) had been fighting in training camp for the Nos. 3 and 4 WR spots in the Colts offense.

#free #receiver #seasons

On draft night, he wore a SuperSonics hat. For his NBA debut, he wore No. 0 for the newly christened Thunder. And before long, his number will hang forever wherever the Thunder plays over the decades — as a tribute to one of OKC's greatest players and most beloved sporting icons.
After 17 seasons, Russell Westbrook has decided to call it a career in the NBA. Which makes this the prefect time for a new hardcover collector's book from The Oklahoman — "ZERO REGRETS: The Legend of Russell Westbrook, the Thunder's Mr. Triple-Double."
"ZERO REGRETS" will tell the story of Westbrook's 11 incredible seasons in Oklahoma City, how he ran roughshod over opponents, how he embraced OKC when Kevin Durant turned his back, and how Thunder Nation loved him for 919 games in the blue and orange and every time he returned masquerading as a Rocket, Wizard, Laker, Clipper, Nugget or King.
Buy our Westbrook tribute book
"ZERO REGRETS" will have it all. The triple-double chases. The MVP season. The eight All-NBA honors. The two scoring **** les. All the winning. All the sellouts. All the drama.

#double

On draft night, he wore a SuperSonics hat. For his NBA debut, he wore No. 0 for the newly christened Thunder. And before long, his number will hang forever wherever the Thunder plays over the decades — as a tribute to one of OKC's greatest players and most beloved sporting icons.
After 17 seasons, Russell Westbrook has decided to call it a career in the NBA. Which makes this the prefect time for a new hardcover collector's book from The Oklahoman — "ZERO REGRETS: The Legend of Russell Westbrook, the Thunder's Mr. Triple-Double."
"ZERO REGRETS" will tell the story of Westbrook's 11 incredible seasons in Oklahoma City, how he ran roughshod over opponents, how he embraced OKC when Kevin Durant turned his back, and how Thunder Nation loved him for 919 games in the blue and orange and every time he returned masquerading as a Rocket, Wizard, Laker, Clipper, Nugget or King.
Buy our Westbrook tribute book
"ZERO REGRETS" will have it all. The triple-double chases. The MVP season. The eight All-NBA honors. The two scoring ******* les. All the winning. All the sellouts. All the drama.

#triple #tribute

Russell Westbrook, one of the NBA's biggest style icons and a catalyst for transforming the pregame tunnel into a fixture of the modern NBA, has retired.
Why not? That's the mantra that Russell Westbrook lived by in all aspects of his NBA career. When you saw him lift off for what seems like an improbable dunk or drive to the paint through a sea of defenders, why not? When he walked the pregame tunnel in a cream poncho with brown stripes and a pork pie hat that looks like he stole it from Walter White's closet, why not?
"It's how I live my life. It's how I operate. Whenever there's any type of indecision, I have an easy answer, and it's just strictly, 'Why not?'" Westbrook told Complex in a 2023 interview. "If I'm getting dressed, or designing, or trying to create pieces, and I don't love it right away, I'll just be like, ' f**k it. Why not? Let's just do it.'"
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When Westbrook's career started back in 2008, the late David Stern's strict NBA dress code was still in place. Players were required to wear suits to games, a decree largely believed to be brought about to curb another fashion icon, Allen Iverson, from wearing 4XL throwback jerseys and baggy sweatsuits. For the first four years, Westbrook stuck to the dress code. His biggest "risk" was a cardigan with gray stripes. But by 2012, he was finding his lane. He wasn't quiet in his "distressed band T-shirt and construction vests" era yet, but he was experimenting more. During the 2012 NBA Finals between the OKC Thunder and Miami Heat, he rocked a white Lacoste polo covered in colorful fishing lures and lensless red glasses. A year later, at All-Star Weekend, he spruced up a brown blazer and a gray/black striped tie with duck camo pants and a yellow belt to go with his "Tokyo" Air Jordan 5s. It barely matched, but it followed the dress code guidelines and stood out, especially since the rest of the league was still rocking more GQ-friendly fits of tailored suits and slim-fitting sweaters over ******* on-ups.

#like #dress #biggest #tunnel

Earlier this week, UCLA men's basketball alumnus Russell Westbrook retired from the NBA after 18 remarkable seasons spent with seven franchises.
Since the Bruins legend called it a career, many professionals from across the sports world have reacted to the news, including fellow UCLA alumnus Darren Collison. The 11-year NBA veteran recalled on NBA TV's "The **** ociation" when Westbrook earned Kobe Bryant's respect while he was still a student in Westwood.
"We obviously played a lot of the NBA guys throughout the offseason when they came to UCLA and the late Kobe Bryant was one of them. I remember Kobe Bryant, he just pretty much had it with everybody on the court during a pickup game, but there was this one particular moment when Russ was guarding him," Collison recalled. "Russ kind of made it a little bit more difficult and Russ was still in college. I'm not saying he stopped him by any means necessary. We know how great of a scorer he was, but he gained Kobe's respect.
"Russ became one of the premier dominant defenders throughout that whole college season and I think that was the start of it. When you see Russ guarding Kobe throughout the pickup game, you're like, 'OK, whoa, I think we got something.' We have one of the best defenders even on our team."
Based on this story and many others, it's clear that Westbrook has always had that "dawg" in him from a very young age.

#kobe #many

Earlier this week, UCLA men's basketball alumnus Russell Westbrook retired from the NBA after 18 iconic seasons spent with seven franchises.
Since the Bruins legend called it a career, many professionals from across the sports world have reacted to the news, including a four-time NBA champion on his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show."
"Basketball fans, y'all suck. Basketball fans suck. And by the way, I am a basketball fan, so you can throw me in that category too. But basketball fans suck," Green proclaimed. "For the last eight to 10 years, all this guy has heard is how bad he sucks, how he don't shoot it well, how he stat pads and how he messes up teams.
"Make no mistake about it, 'Westbrick,' and all the things y'all said about him, and the moment he steps aside, 'Oh man, y'all did Russ wrong. Can't tell me he couldn't be on a team. Wow, how he played the game, gonna miss him.' All these great, beautiful things.
"Why we can't feel that when you gone? It's like when somebody die. Everybody's like, 'Oh man, best dude ever, best woman ever, would take the shirt off their back.' Everybody got all these great things to say, but when that person was living, you don't show that love.

#fans #green

Earlier this week, UCLA men's basketball alumnus Russell Westbrook retired from the NBA after 18 remarkable seasons spent with seven franchises.
Since the Bruins legend called it a career, many professionals from across the sports world have reacted to the news. Longtime NBA point guard Raymond Felton shared his take on the "To The Baha" podcast that he hosts alongside a trio of fellow NBA veterans: Theo Pinson, Charlie Villanueva & Deron Williams.
"Now that he's retired I guarantee you, may not happen this season, but it may, next season retire his jersey and a statue," Felton said. "He is stamped in OKC, bro. The best player, the favorite. Listen, y'all know how I feel about Shai, I love Shai. Shai is No. 2. I think he will always be No. 2. What Russ did in OKC, you got to understand he built that. There was no team in OKC, Russ built that. He built the winning culture, he stayed loyal, he stayed down with the fans. Russell Westbrook will be the all-time favorite Thunder player ever."
Following back-to-back campaigns as league MVP for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Felton's recent take is a testament to the unforgettable legacy that Westbrook left during 11 seasons in Oklahoma City.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA alumnus Westbrook is 'all-time favorite' in OKC per former NBA PG

#westbrook #shai #felton #retired

Warriors would welcome Klay Thompson back 'with open arms' amid Heat and Lakers interest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Klay Thompson clarified his career priorities this week, stating his primary focus is simply returning to a competitive environment. While he isn't desperate to stack up consecutive rings, he wants the genuine opportunity to fight for a **** le.
Thompson emphasized that playing a meaningful role on a team capable of a deep playoff run is "really my only goal," whether that happens this season or next. At 36 years old with a lengthy injury history, Thompson knows his career window is rapidly shrinking.
He realized this even more clearly after the retirement of his longtime rival, Russell Westbrook. However, those visions are highly unlikely to materialize if he remains a Dallas Mavericks star since their long-term project is around young star Cooper Flagg.
But Dallas has no intention of simply letting Thompson walk for nothing. They are pursuing a trade to acquire **** ets for Thompson's contract rather than opting for a buyout. This approach aims to maximize value, as reported by Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

#star #Lakers

The time has come. The NBA has officially dropped its 2026-27 regular-season schedule. As with anything in life, there are winners and losers — let's dive in.
Look, I'm a big fan of a good social media product. Russell Westbrook called it quits on a fruitful 18-year career and did so with aplomb, a beautifully crafted mini-movie highlighting all the best parts of his time in the NBA.
I'm also a fan of removing all of the pomp and circumstance and getting right to brass tacks with a schedule release, as well. And who better to do this with than Suns wing Dillon Brooks? Phoenix's social-media release was a hilarious breath of fresh air, a reminder that, yes, all 30 teams in fact do play against each other. Brooks, who looks anything but camera-ready, **** up the script, throws it at the camera and declares, "We play everyone," before staring directly at the camera in a manner similar to his trademark pregame ritual. It's obvious. It's brilliant.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with comedians/actors Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele, and their old hit sketch comedy show, "Key & Peele." If not, get hip to it. For those that do remember the series, you'll immediately recall the infamous Substitute Teacher skit, featuring an enraged Key charged with taking attendance of his class. The only issue is Key is unable to **** ounce anyone's name.
Introducing the Dallas Mavericks' social-media schedule release. Adding current players Dereck Lively and Max Christie to the scene — with some of the students wearing opponent team gear — was the icing on the cake in their homage to the original. Bravo.

#schedule

After years of battling, a longtime rival of the Golden State Warriors is hanging them up after a legendary 18-year career in the ****** ociation. Point guard Russell Westbrook recently announced he was retiring from the NBA after 18-years.
After getting drafted out of UCLA in 2008, Westbrook spent 11 years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, making eight appearances in the NBA All-Star Game along with being named the 2015-16 NBA MVP. Alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, Westbrook, at only 23-years-old, helped lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat. Westbrook also led the league in scoring twice, along with leading the league in ****** ists three different times.
Following his decorated run with the Thunder, Westbrook went on to play for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings.
During each of his stops, Westbrook always appeared to put on a show against the Warriors. Westbrook played the Warriors 56 times in the regular season in his career, recording a 30-26 record against Golden State. Westbrook averaged 20.3 points, 7.6 ****** ists and 7.1 rebounds in 56 games against the Warriors.
Westbrook and the Warriors only met once in the postseason, in the legendary 2016 Western Conference Finals. Westbrook averaged 26.7 points and 11.3 ****** ists in that seven-game series. During the series, Westbrook notched a 36-point triple-double with 11 rebounds and 11 ****** ists to give the Thunder a 3-1 lead over the 73-win Warriors. Westbrook notched eight triple-doubles against the Warriors in his career. Four with the Thunder, two with the Wizards, one with the Nuggets, and even one with the Kings last season.

#westbrook #thunder

Shams Charania: The Cavaliers remain in constant communication with James Harden and his agents on a new contract to return to Cleveland while they strongly pursue two free agent forwards -- restricted Peyton Watson and unrestricted Jonathan ***** inga -- made more viable with Friday's trade.
x.com
D'Antoni on the James Harden and Chris Paul Rockets: "We thought we were the best team in the league by far that year for sure. And we had Golden State on the ropes, with their Big 3 -- Big 4, actually, they'll probably have four Hall-of-Fame guys going in. They were good, and Steve Kerr does a great job. We had 'em, you know? We had 'em, and just, Chris [Paul] got hurt, and that's just the way it goes. And then we missed 27 3s in a row, which didn't help. ***** ytically, I know that's not good! I knew it wasn't when we were doing it, but just a great team." — 8/14/2026 YouTube
NBACentral: Austin Rivers calls out the media and NBA fans for failing to appreciate Russell Westbrook during his career, and predicts James Harden, Devin Booker, and Donovan Mitchell won't get their proper respect until they're gone (h/t big_business_) — 8/14/2026 x.com

#james #harden #good #charania

Journalist Marc Jacobs posted on X that discussions between the parties "continue to advance," and if the deal is completed, it will be the former MVP's first club outside the US.
Is one of the biggest deals in European basketball history, and Israeli basketball in particular, drawing near?
About two weeks after reports of interest from Hapoel Tel Aviv were denied, reports in the US on Monday night indicated that contacts between the Reds and Russell Westbrook are continuing and even progressing.
Journalist Marc Jacobs posted on X (formerly Twitter) that discussions between the parties "continue to advance," and if the deal is completed, it will be the former MVP's first club outside the US. As recalled, according to The Athletic, the star is seriously considering a first career move outside the NBA.
The 37-year-old Westbrook is still a free agent after completing the previous NBA season. Over his career, he won the league's MVP award, was selected to nine All-Star games, and is considered one of the greatest point guards of his generation. He also holds the all-time NBA record for triple-doubles and was included in the league's 75th Anniversary Team.

#first #westbrook #posted #parties