Rockets’ Russell Westbrook dispels flawed narrative about his character

Houston Rockets superstar Russell Westbrook shows support for former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Andre Roberson.

By now we’ve heard it all about Houston Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook. We’ve heard how he’s selfish, how he’s a bad teammate, how he pads stats in pursuit of triple-doubles, and how he’s a hothead.

These narratives have been proven wrong time and time again, and especially during his first season with the Houston Rockets, as Russ hasn’t fit any of the aforementioned descriptions. Russ has instead been a model citizen and has done everything the Rockets have asked of him, just like he did with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook spent 11 years donning an OKC Thunder uniform, where he formed relationships with a plethora of teammates, who many of which have publicly stated how he was a great teammate. We’ve heard Enes Kanter, Jerami Grant, and Paul George state how Russ was a joy to play alongside, and it doesn’t stop there.

We’ve even heard Alex Abrines express how Russ helped him overcome mental health struggles, which shows the genuine sincerity Westbrook has for his teammates both on and off the court.

The Thunder consistently made the postseason year-after-year, in part to the MVP-level play and leadership of Westbrook, but also because of the lockdown defense of Andre Roberson. Although Roberson has never been one to light up the scoreboard, his defense has proven to be stifling, as he made the All-Defensive team during Westbrook’s 2016-17 MVP season.

But Roberson suffered a grotesque injury that caused him to miss each of the last two seasons, leaving his future in doubt. Roberson has faced significant obstacles in his quest for a return to the court, although he continued to rehab and work towards a return.

Rockets’ Westbrook proves yet again why he’s a great teammate

On Saturday, Roberson announced that he was going to be back on the court for OKC’s Sunday scrimmage against the Philadelphia 76ers, and Westbrook dispelled the narrative of him being a bad teammate, yet again, as he stated, “So happy for you Brodie!!!! Keep going.” This drew a response from Roberson, stating “Love Brodie.”

On Sunday, Roberson suited up for the Thunder and led them to a comeback victory, while making several key shots down the stretch to help them stave off defeat.

Although Westbrook traded his Thunder uniform for a Houston Rockets jersey, he still supports his former teammate in Roberson, which is the ultimate proof of not only a good teammate, but a loyal supporter and a long-lasting friendship.