Why do former players seem to give Westbrook endless credit and ignore his flaws?

[C3H6N6O6]

It is absolute comedy gold when Charles Barkley says that Giannis and Westbrook are the 2 players who give 100% effort on court.
Giannis must get angry listening to that if he watches Inside The NBA.

There is a reason guys like Chuck, Shaq and a lot of retired NBA players have no idea how teams use analytics. They think that teams run only on analytics. On top of that they don't even know what analytics actually covers in the current NBA.

[Goomba3666]

Lol. This is like the nerd asking the cheerleader why the athletes get her attention.

Embodiment of the delusion of fans.

[Sedale Threatt]

Fans don't realize this until he's on their teams and they watch him play from night to night. That's why there's so much push back when this topic comes up in general NBA circles.

Everyone assumes he plays hard all the time just because national media members always run with that narrative.

lol, yup. I've never had much of a problem with Westbrook and probably would have counted myself as a casual fan up until he got to L.A. Mainly because I was in the same boat: Yeah, he's X,Y and Z, but HE PLAYS SO HARD!!!! Judging a player on the downslope of their career isn't necessarily fair, and I take nothing away from his achievements, including his MVP. He's obviously a first-ballot HOFer. But watching this dude every night has been an absolutely miserable experience. I just cannot stand the way he plays.

[dhsilv2]

It is absolute comedy gold when Charles Barkley says that Giannis and Westbrook are the 2 players who give 100% effort on court.
Giannis must get angry listening to that if he watches Inside The NBA.

There is a reason guys like Chuck, Shaq and a lot of retired NBA players have no idea how teams use analytics. They think that teams run only on analytics. On top of that they don't even know what analytics actually covers in the current NBA.

Shaq doesn't understand even the most basic modern schemes. And he doesn't even remotely understand what is going on defensively. I don't get it honestly. He should be picking up some of this stuff just by osmosis. At least Chuck when he first started on the show, you could tell he had scouting reports drilled into his head and was really insightful on the players he'd played against. So he at least had the capacity to learn and he's even shown some good effort in prepping for the NCAA at least a few years (mind you after providing some pretty TURRIBLE and embarrassing moments prior to deciding he might want to learn some names).

Shaq seriously just never reached a point where his insane raw talent even got truly challenge enough where he had to become a student of the game. And now that it's his job, he doesn't see the value. It's crazy to watch.

[Sedale Threatt]

Those two are case examples why, despite them experiencing basketball on a deeper level than anything I could even hope to imagine, I will never, ever, ever concede to any player's opinion strictly on the basis of them having played. In contrast to say, listening to Hubie Brown call a game, I don't think I've ever learned a single thing from either of them.

[JN61]

This right here is arguably the biggest lie that fans/former players perpetuate.

how do you define this?,,,because i infer that mavsDirk is talking about westbrook's relentlessness on court

I remember a stat showing Westbrook was the worst in the NBA at challenging the shooter, but can't remember for sure what that stat is called.

Well Westbrook has challenged basically identical amount of shots on average as Curry and CP3 in the past 5+ years.

[Lalouie]

how do you define this?,,,because i infer that mavsDirk is talking about westbrook's relentlessness on court

I remember a stat showing Westbrook was the worst in the NBA at challenging the shooter, but can't remember for sure what that stat is called.

Well Westbrook has challenged basically identical amount of shots on average as Curry and CP3 in the past 5+ years.

defense is on endangered species list
just looks at what's happening and what has happened. by pure natural selection defense will be gone soon, and btw bad D has always been forgiven

[cam24thomas]

2017-
https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/is-russell-westbrook-padding-his-rebounding-stats-by-leaving-his-defender-stats-say-he-is-01dmny0ph0z4

"Westbrook has contested a grand total of 160 FG’s on the ENTIRE SEASON. That number is staggeringly low and to be frank, flat out embarrassing. … Westbrook ranks dead last in the NBA in contested shots among players averaging 30 or more MPG by a considerable margin. Hilariously, the only two players who have contested less 3P FGA’s are Rudy Gobert and Whiteside, who have contested 53 and 64 respectively. Russell Westbrook is at 69 while having playing [sic] close to the same amount of minutes…Yes, DeAndre Jordan has contested more 3P FGA’s this season than Russell Westbrook.

[TinmanZBoy]

Because nobody had no shame to chase triple double at the expense of playing defense… it’s an impossible task until Jokic proves … people usually admire the things that they can’t acheive

[JN61]

2017-
https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/is-russell-westbrook-padding-his-rebounding-stats-by-leaving-his-defender-stats-say-he-is-01dmny0ph0z4

"Westbrook has contested a grand total of 160 FG’s on the ENTIRE SEASON. That number is staggeringly low and to be frank, flat out embarrassing. … Westbrook ranks dead last in the NBA in contested shots among players averaging 30 or more MPG by a considerable margin. Hilariously, the only two players who have contested less 3P FGA’s are Rudy Gobert and Whiteside, who have contested 53 and 64 respectively. Russell Westbrook is at 69 while having playing [sic] close to the same amount of minutes…Yes, DeAndre Jordan has contested more 3P FGA’s this season than Russell Westbrook.

Same amount as Paul has averaged last several seasons while Paul doesn't have any kind of major offensive load on him while Westbrook had all time highest usage + all time highest creation volume/impact for his teammates. Outside of his MVP season Westbrook averages about the same as the most offensive guards as written prior.

[Rainwater]

Because every great player has flaws and that shouldn't take away from how great they are. Yes, Russ is not the same player he once was but still great none the less.

[Sixerscan]

Watching him play in a playoff series and seeing Danny Green get 2-3 back door cuts a game because Westbrook doesn’t care about guarding him because there’s no numbers for doing that.

well,, okay, but i mean we can get into answering the question or not. and the answers are divided into actually trying to answer the op's question or answering with why you don't like westbrook

so,,,why former( i would imagine he means the older players) give him credit and overlook his flaws is because they all admire his energy and relentlessness. this is what rw is known for. we all know his weaknesses but that's built into the package. you like him for his drive but it comes at a price. nobody is going to admire his shooting and brilliant defense

No idea what you’re talking about.

Someone simply posted that he gives his all every time he steps in the court, which is 100% untrue but often repeated.

Relentless, overlooking flaws, people not liking him…all that irrelevant to pointing out that saying he gives 100% effort is a lie.

Yes I was responding to the idea that he always tries hard. He does not try to cover his man on defense, especially if it’s a role player that he feels is not worth his time and he’d rather go try for a steal or rebound (at least I assume that’s what’s going on, otherwise he’s just having attention lapses).

If you want to say he always goes 100% when he has the basketball in his hand or there’s a rebound to be had (for himself of course, let’s not expect him to box out so a teammate can get the ball) fine but that’s not what people say.

[jokeboy86]

Not only cause he's a player like they are but WB seems like he's the type that if you say something that he deems dismissive or disrespectful he'll run up on you or bring up what you said in person. Also there's some division between players if they're from North America or not. I've seen plenty of former players talk down and say things about the careers or games of Giannis, Dirk, and other international players that they never do with guys like T-Mac, Webber, AI, Melo, or VC.

[picc]

Because everyone else in the sports world including realgm posters give him endless flack for his flaws and ignore his credits.

[threethehardway]

Lol. This is like the nerd asking the cheerleader why the athletes get her attention.

Embodiment of the delusion of fans.

Lol they really expect former players, guys that have actually played the game, knows what goes on in locker rooms to hate on a 1st ballot HOFer out of his prime.

Absolutely delusional.

[Bob Ross]

Theyre all part of a fraternity that we will never be in or understand unless some of you are actually NBA players

[threethehardway]

Theyre all part of a fraternity that we will never be in or understand unless some of you are actually NBA players

Exactly.

It kinda reminds me of the famous pictures of Michelle Obama hugging on George Bush and people being shocked...

And I was like, "You know they all on the same side right?"

Why do outsiders expect the insiders to go at each other in public for their benefit lol?

In terms of the NBA...

You are fan, they are a player. They are not on your side of the fence lol.

Only guy that talk harshly about dudes is Charles Barkley lol and that's for entertainment.

[Bob Ross]

Theyre all part of a fraternity that we will never be in or understand unless some of you are actually NBA players

It kinda reminds me of the famous pictures of Michelle Obama hugging on George Bush and people being shocked...

And I was like, "You know they all on the same side right?"

Why do outsiders expect the insiders to go at each other in public for their benefit lol?

You are fan, they are a player. They are not on your side of the fence lol.

100%

[Fantastik_Goat]

It’s probably because there are only 20 living former players who have scored more points than him and 9 with more assists.
And only Lebron and Oscar Robinson are on both lists, so who the F*#% are thay to say anything.

[CS707]

I think the me against the world thing resonates with other athletes. Also, prime WB was unique in his motor/athleticism and players tend of have more respect for things they are willing to acknowledge they can't do themselves. I think there is a perception that skills can be learned but athleticism and mentality are god given. JMO.