Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook has spoken out after his wife, Nina, said she has received “death wishes” as the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles continue.
The 33-year-old Westbrook, who joined his hometown Lakers in August, has become a focal point for fans’ ire as the 2020 NBA champions struggle to make the playoffs this season.
“I 100% stand behind my wife and how she’s feeling,” Westbrook said after the Lakers lost to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, their eighth defeat in 10 games. “When it comes to basketball, I don’t mind the criticism of missing and making shots. But the moment it becomes where my name is getting shamed, it becomes an issue.
“I’ve kind of let it go in the past because it never really bothered me. But it really kind of hit me the other day. Me and my wife were at teacher-parent conferences for my son. And the teacher told me, ‘[Westbrook’s son] Noah, he’s so proud of his last name. He writes it everywhere. He writes it on everything. He tells everybody and walks around and says, ‘I’m Westbrook.’ ... And I kind of sat there in shock, and it hit me, like, ‘Damn. I can no longer allow people [to denigrate my surname].’”
Westbrook has been nicknamed “Westbrick” by some Lakers fans for his perceived poor shooting. The 2017 NBA MVP said the insults meant his family no longer wanted to attend Lakers games in person.
“It affects them even going to games,” he said. “Like, I don’t even want to bring my kids to the game because I don’t want them to hear people calling their dad nicknames and other names for no reason because he’s playing the game that he loves. And it’s gotten so bad where my family don’t even want to go to home games, to any game ... and it’s just super unfortunate, man. And it’s super upsetting to me.
“I’m at a point where I’m going to continue to address it. It’s just unfortunate.”
The Lakers started the season as favorites to win the NBA title after adding veterans such as Carmelo Anthony and Westbrook to a roster than includes LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However they have struggled mightily, particularly in recent months, and are now 11.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets, who occupy the final automatic qualifying place for the playoffs. If the season ended today, the Lakers would be forced into a play-in tournament to qualify for the first-round of the playoffs.
