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
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
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