Russell Westbrook Tributes Prompt Draymond Green to Call Out Hypocritical Fans: “West Brick & All the Things Y’all Said About Him”

Russell Westbrook's retirement post drew millions of views and thousands of responses, mostly filled with praise.

Russell Westbrook Tributes Prompt Draymond Green to Call Out Hypocritical Fans: “West Brick & All the Things Y’all Said About Him”

Draymond Green and Russell Westbrook (image via Clutch Points/X)

After Russell Westbrook decided to ignore the two offers he had on the table and call it quits on his stellar career, tributes poured in from all angles. Be it members of the media, fans, or current and former players, his retirement post drew millions of reactions.

The point guard ended his 18-year career with a regular-season MVP award, nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA selections, two regular-season scoring titles, and three assists titles on the stat sheet.

Along with those accolades, the California native was known for his hard-working style, and his effort on the floor was something the league appreciated to a great degree.

But along with those flowers, Westbrook did receive a lot of brickbats, particularly in the latter stages of his career. His tumultuous time with the Los Angeles Lakers started the trend and did not stop until he posted his retirement video. That is what Draymond Green decided to address.

The last 8 to 10 years, all this guy has heard is how bad he sucks, how he don’t shoot it well, how he’s stat-padding, and how he mess up teams… West Brick, and all the things y’all said about him. And the moment he step aside, oh man, ‘Y’all did Russ wrong. Can’t tell me he couldn’t be on the team… Gonna miss him… all these great beautiful things.’ Why can’t we feel that when you going?.

Green asked on his namesake show

The four-time champion added that this is akin to when a person dies. At that point, everybody who hated the person comes forward and sings praise. Green is basically calling out those hypocritical fans for not giving Russell Westbrook the love when he was playing.

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Another former player calls out Russell Westbrook’s haters

Draymond Green’s words will probably ring for a while, considering almost everyone who followed Russell Westbrook’s career knows how the critics were out to get him when he was playing. Another former player, Michael Redd, decided to remind fans how bad it was for the former league MVP.

Fans would often try to rile up Westbrook
Fans would often try to rile up Westbrook (Image via Clutch Points/X)

People clowned 0 for years. Got so nasty his wife had to step in and speak out, and he didn’t want his own kids at the games anymore. Now he retires, and here come all the flowers. Would’ve hit different for him hearing some of that back when the whole internet was booing him, you know?

Michael Redd wrote on X

Redd was right to claim that there was a time when Westbrook’s wife, Nina Westbrook, received death threats and had to stop going to games along with their children.

Such vitriol followed her husband for most of his last few years in the league, and that is why these praises coming after his retirement feel hypocritical. Michael Redd ended his post by suggesting to fans and critics that one should be good to people while they are still around. Now, all this praise will not matter to Russell Westbrook since he has left the game.

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Stephen A. Smith gives Russell Westbrook his flowers

While these current and former players make a valid point about how some of Russell Westbrook’s critics changing course upon his retirement felt weird, one analyst, who has not been that critical or vindictive towards the 37-year-old, had nothing but praise for him.

I don’t have a negative word to say about Russell Westbrook. I think he was a phenomenal player, I think he is a first-ballot surefire future Hall of Famer… Walking triple-double for years… Never cheated the audience… A far better person than most people realize.

Stephen A. Smith said on his namesake show

Smith said along the lines of the two players that it is difficult for people to admire greatness when they have ill feelings towards them. But the now-retired guard‘s effort on the court was enough for anyone to see how good he was.

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