The EuroLeague usually doesn’t make NBA-level headlines, but Wade Baldwin IV changed that this week, and not exactly for his stat line. The former Memphis Grizzlies first-round pick and current Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul star found himself trending online after his lighthearted postgame comment about Russell Westbrook went viral for all the wrong reasons, and Baldwin had to retract it.
Wade Baldwin Apologizes Over his Russell Westbrook comment
Fenerbahçe’s 79–69 win over Anadolu Efes in EuroLeague Round 6 was all about control and intensity, and Baldwin delivered both. The American guard recorded 10 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and seven turnovers — a mixed bag that still proved crucial in the team’s road win.
When asked afterward about his high turnovers, Baldwin cracked a joke that instantly made headlines.
“That’s like a Russell Westbrook on the Lakers stat line right there,” Baldwin said with a laugh.
The remark referenced Westbrook’s tumultuous Lakers tenure from 2021 to 2023, a stretch that saw him both praised for his energy and effort while being criticized for turnovers and shooting struggles.
During that stint in Los Angeles, Westbrook averaged 3.7 turnovers per game across 130 appearances, a number that became a talking point for critics as the Lakers struggled to find rhythm during his time there.
Within hours, Baldwin’s quote was circulating across social media, with major accounts like NBA Central amplifying the soundbite.
Feeling the wave of attention, Baldwin quickly clarified his stance on X (formerly Twitter), showing respect to the veteran guard.
“I tweaked … Russ damn near my favorite player all time. My apologies @russwest44,” Baldwin posted, walking back the playful jab.
I tweaked … Russ damn near my favorite player all time. My apologies @russwest44 https://t.co/JlYPrg8jbG
— IV (@The_Fourth_Wade) October 24, 2025
Once seen as a promising young guard, Baldwin was selected 17th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2016 NBA Draft. But his time in the league was short-lived – just 56 total games across three seasons with the Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 3.1 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
After leaving the NBA in 2019, Baldwin reinvented himself overseas. Over the past several years, he’s played for top-tier European clubs, including Bayern Munich, Baskonia, and now Fenerbahçe, where he’s become a reliable two-way contributor and one of the EuroLeague’s more dynamic American guards.
While Baldwin’s comment might have been an offhand joke, it shows just how much of a shadow NBA culture casts over global basketball. Even in Istanbul, comparisons to the league’s biggest stars can spark headlines across continents.
