Few have experienced an NBA career like Russell Westbrook. How many other players can say they’ve won MVP, earned two First-Team All-NBA selections, and been a two-time scoring champ?
That’s a list of accomplishments suited for a future Hall of Famer. However, he doesn’t have a contract for the upcoming season, and an NBA scout offered a blunt take on the 9-time All-Star’s free agent status.
NBA Scout Wouldn’t Sign ‘Unreliable’ Russell Westbrook
NBA free agency has been underway for a month now. Yet, Westbrook still hasn’t landed a contract. What gives?
While he’s now 37, age may not be the primary factor here. Like any player nearing 40 years old, there’s no denying that Westbrook’s skills are arguably on the decline.
But it’s not like he’s holding out for a big payday; Westbrook has signed for the veteran’s minimum in each of the past four seasons.
Rather, one NBA scout who spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman suggested that Westbrook’s reliability, or lack thereof, is a far bigger issue. The scout even boldly declared that they “wouldn’t touch him in a million years.”
“I wouldn’t touch him in a million years,” the scout said, referring to the Heat’s potential interest. “You can’t rely on him in terms of what’s going to happen. Yeah, he’ll have, you know, great games. Sure. But he can’t shoot. He plays his own way. He’s not going to fit into a system. He doesn’t really defend.”
Well, after not being able to shoot, being unable to fit into a system, and not “really” playing defense, what’s left?
Westbrook’s still a point guard who rebounds his position very well, and the three-time NBA assists leader also distributed at a respectable clip of 6.7 assists per game last season.
He’s also averaged 1.6 steals per game in his career.
Yet, it’s also true that Westbrook isn’t a deadeye shooter in a game that values perimeter shooting more than ever. He’s a career 30.8% shooter from 3-point range. That’s just not ideal in today’s NBA systems.
While Westbrook could spend all offseason working on hitting tons of shots from distance, chances are he won’t suddenly come back as a long-range specialist. Players with 18 seasons of experience don’t typically overhaul their skill sets this late in their careers.
As a result, it’s possible he’s already played his last season. Then again, several other fairly high-profile free agents still haven’t secured a contract for the upcoming season either, so perhaps Westbrook’s phone will start ringing soon, too.
