Russell Westbrook is on the cover of GQ’s November issue, and the story by Daniel Riley is very well-written. The interview takes place in Beverly Hills, and it covers this summer’s free agency, his love for fashion, and what goes into the persona that fans all across the league revered and admire.
Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti drafted Russell Westbrook on a referral—from other prospects. Time and time again when Presti interviewed NBA hopefuls about what other prospects they feared the most, Westbrook’s name was repeatedly the answer. The Sonics ultimately selected Westbrook fourth overall then moved to OKC later that summer before the season began.
The number 0, which he had chosen to signify a new start upon entering college, remained. For Westbrook, it was another new start in another new town, so why not?
He grew up embracing the phrase “why not?” which is why it seems like his confidence is unlimited. His demeanor remains unfazed by change, hate, perception, or other. He sticks to the formula (run, shoot, pass, rebound, etc.) because it’s all he knows how to do. And it works for him, so why not?
Although he himself even says, “I was never the best player. Not in my life.” But when it came to being the best on any given day—or maybe even the best in today’s NBA—why not?
Yet, kind of like how feminists may complain about a woman being an accessory to her significant other, it’s likely that all features on Westbrook in the foreseeable will mention KD’s departure from OKC, and—you guessed it—why not?
The superstar in question is mentioned in the article, and the superstar who’s the subject of the article addresses it. Although what may be most surprising (and the concept feminists are trying to defeat) is how it’s actually Kevin Durant is mentioned in the article deck (sub heading) and not Westbrook.
Something you might not know about Russell Westbrook is that his best friend, Khelcey Barrs, collapsed and died after a day of pickup basketball during their sophomore year of high school. What makes the story even more sublime is that Westbrook didn’t make his school’s Varsity team until the following year. And it wasn’t until near the end of Westbrook’s senior year that he got an offer to play for free (housing and food) at Barrs’ dream school, UCLA, where Westbrook claims he hadn’t entertained the thought of going to, let alone playing basketball at.
Them summer before his sophomore year at UCLA when he eventually got to start, Westbrook was doing two-a-days every day while playing pick-up games with Kobe and Kevin Garnett.
It’s no secret then as to how Westbrook is as good and talented as he is on the court. He outworks, outhustles, outwills anyone who stands in his way—and now, there’s no one on his team to do that.
When he’s not playing, Westbrook makes it a point to address his other passion, which is fashion. As a matter of fact, Russell Westbrook loves fashion as much as he loves basketball, hence the leopard print shirts, rock star jeans, etc. He takes pride in the fact that he doesn’t have a stylist, and he makes it a point to find inspiration from everywhere and anywhere, from road games to Hong Kong hotels.
So next time you see him in something ridiculous, know that he’s probably asked himself the same questions about his outfit that you might be. Has he worn that before? And if he hasn’t, then why not wear it today, right now?
And, according to GQ, he is the odds on favorite to being the league MVP—why not?
