Dillon Brooks Defends Russell Westbrook Against Claims of Being Uncoachable and Overlooked by NBA Teams

Dillon Brooks has given his take on why Russell Westbrook is now struggling to find a team.

Dillon Brooks Defends Russell Westbrook Against Claims of Being Uncoachable and Overlooked by NBA Teams

Russell Westbrook and Dillon Brooks (Image credits - Firstsportz)

There have been a number of big trades and signings in the offseason so far this year. But there is one superstar who still remains a free agent at the moment – Russell Westbrook. Unfortunately for him, some teams might not be big fans of what they have seen from him over the last few years.

In his prime, Westbrook was widely regarded as one of the best players in the league. After leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, he has played for six different franchises in seven seasons.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks gave his take on why Westbrook is now struggling to find a team at this stage of his career.

He’s willing to play. He’s not like one of those superstars who’s like ‘I’m not playing.’ He’s shown that he wants to win… His play style is so different. It’s hard to coach. He needs the ball. He has to have the ball in his hands.

Dillon Brooks on N3on’s live stream

Dillon Brooks has played against Westbrook several times since entering the league in 2017. He lauded the former MVP for his passion and for what he brings to the table, but there is some truth to what he said regarding Westbrook’s style of play.

Westbrook has struggled to find a footing in the last six years and has seen a steady decline in his game. There were rumors that his time in the NBA was coming to an end as Hapoel Tel Aviv showed interest in him. In the end, he signed with the Sacramento Kings and was an important player for them last season. But it looks like he is at a crossroads in his career once again.

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NBA coach reportedly told the Miami Heat to stay away from Russell Westbrook

The Miami Heat got the offseason underway with one of the biggest trades so far. They traded for Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks. With the ‘Greek Freak’ and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt, the Heat front office plans to build their roster around their two big men.

It appeared that the Heat would be a potential suitor for Westbrook, but an NBA coach made them rethink their move.

An NBA source who has relationships with Erik Spoelstra and other coaches said that a coach that Spoelstra trusts told him that he advised the Heat not to sign Westbrook, asserting that he’s difficult to coach.

Barry Jackson on Miami Herald

Westbrook’s willingness to compete at the highest level and his athleticism for a point guard are second to none. But as Brooks said, he needs the ball in his hands all the time to make an impact, which ends up costing his team more often than not.

Houston Rockets are considered a serious destination for Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook does not have many suitors at the moment, but he has generated some interest in the league. Last season for the Kings, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 64 appearances. Unfortunately, the Kings ended up finishing in 14th place in the Western Conference standings as they battled through injuries to their star players throughout the season.

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant with the Thunder
Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant with the Thunder (Image via Thunder Brasil/X)

According to Sports Illustrated, it looks like the Rockets are considering making a move for the 37-year-old. Westbrook played for the Rockets in the 2019-20 campaign alongside James Harden. They were beaten in the second round by the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.

The move would see Westbrook reunite with his former Thunder teammate, Kevin Durant. Durant and the Rockets are coming off a first-round exit last season. They were left heavily exposed without a natural point guard in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see if the Rockets go ahead with the move, as they have Fred VanVleet returning from a long-term injury.

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