Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has voiced strong criticism of basketball fans, questioning their sincerity in their appreciation for Russell Westbrook, which he believes surfaced only after the veteran player announced his retirement.
On his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show," Green directly addressed fans, stating, "Y'all suck," and questioning the timing of the outpouring of support for Westbrook. "Why is it that Russell Westbrook has to announce his retirement unexpectedly to finally see the love that he deserves?" he asked.
Green pointed to years of negative commentary directed at Westbrook, including accusations of "stat padding" and being a detriment to teams. "Because for the last 8 to 10 years, all this guy has heard is how bad he sucks, how he stat pads, and how he messes up teams," Green said.
He specifically called out the derogatory nickname "Westbrick," which emerged during the 2018-2019 season when Westbrook's free-throw percentage saw a notable decline. Green contrasted this with the effusive praise that followed Westbrook's retirement announcement, noting the shift in fan sentiment: "The moment he steps aside, ‘Oh man, y’all did Russ wrong. Can’t tell me he couldn’t be on a team. Wow, how he played the game. Gonna miss him.'"
Westbrook, an 18-year NBA veteran, was once considered a future Hall of Famer. During his tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder, playing alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, Westbrook earned the league's MVP award in 2017 and was a nine-time All-Star. He led the league in triple-doubles and, at 24, guided the Thunder to their first NBA Finals appearance, where they lost to the Miami Heat in five games.
After Harden departed the Thunder, followed by Durant's move to the Warriors in 2016, Westbrook remained with the franchise until 2019. He subsequently played for six more teams, including averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds as a member of the Sacramento Kings in his most recent season.