Russell Westbrook is not like Kevin Durant. He’s not like me, you or anyone else. Russell Westbrook is one of a kind and he is proud of that. The man prides himself on being an individual in many aspects of his life, like his game and most notably his fashion. But he did have a decision to make that would decide the future of so many. For once, a selfish decision made by Russell Westbrook would have tremendous impact on others.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, lost Kevin Durant to the Golden State Warriors earlier this summer and the team had to make a decision. Keep Russell Westbrook or get rid of him and get some value back for what he’s worth. Many teams were interested and seemingly everyone was waiting with baited breath to see what Westbrook would want to do. At the end of the day, Russell chose to stay with the Thunder and he did it by removing people from his past and welcoming in some new names.
Following from Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
No nostalgia, no reflection and no regret: In Westbrook’s world, Durant had been deleted like his old teammate’s text message saying goodbye on the way to Golden State.
Westbrook had come to Oklahoma City for his yearly youth basketball camp, where, yes, his mother often works the snack bar. His agent, Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group, joined him with Presti and assistant GM Troy Weaver. Westbrook’s and Foucher’s message to management was simple: Whatever we do now, it’ll be in the light. No agendas, no sneaking around. If I want to stay, I’ll tell you. If I want to leave, I’ll tell you that, too.
“The idea of running out to find a super team, that isn’t who he is,” one source close to Westbrook told The Vertical. “He thought, ‘These are my guys here,’ and he wanted to go to battle with them.”
As much as Durant had people of influence coming and going in his life – a revolving door of agents and spiritual gurus, personal trainers and various hangers-on – Westbrook’s inner circle never changed. His parents, his wife and his agent. With Durant, there was perpetual calculation of who had his ear and who had nudged his way into prominence. This was important information for those recruiting him to stay, and those recruiting him to leave.
With Westbrook, it was simpler. Go to Russell and talk it out. He is fiercely loyal and fiercely cautious: Earning his trust takes years and years; losing it takes but a moment.
