Picture Credit: Twitter
Several videos from the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves preseason game have gone viral where former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook is seemingly seen distancing himself from the team during the players’ huddle before tip-off. There have been countless speculations and rumours about Westbrook not gelling well with the Lakeshow and these videos were adding more fuel to the fire.
The video was shot by an Instagram user michaelmorales10 where the former NBA All-star seems to be disinterested in the team huddle, before going straight to the coaching staff without interacting with his team. Addressing this clip, the former Oklahoma City Thunder player talked about how this has been his ritual in the league since his rookie year.
"Pregame, I've been doing that since I've been in the league for years, man," Westbrook commented after practice on Thursday. "I think they just cut the video and obviously the internet is going to take it and run with whatever they need to run with. But, I've been doing the same ritual since I've been in the league."
Russell's wife, Nina also replied on Twitter, when a user posted a few photos and videos of Westbrook going through this same solo pregame ritual on other teams he has played as she posted, "Smh... and it begins..."
Like the previously mentioned clip, another video has been catching the eye of the audience where Rusell Westbrook is seen avoiding an in-game team huddle started off by the newly acquired guard Patrick Beverly during the Minnesota game. Reacting to the clip, the 33-year-old spoke on how he was talking to the coaches and hence wasn’t in the huddle.
"As far as the other video, I was actually talking to the coaches and they cut that video in half as well," Westbrook said. "I was talking to the coaches about a missed coverage. So, I don't pay no mind to it, man.”