After 18 seasons in the NBA, Russell Westbrook retired. Quite the unexpected turn of events as he was fielding offers from the Wizards and Kings.
Austin Rivers, his former Rockets teammate, went off on the reaction from NBA fans upon hearing this news. He claimed this type of love should’ve always been bestowed upon Westbrook from the get-go.
Austin Rivers Calls Out NBA ‘Fans’ For Not Showing Russell Westbrook Love When He Was Playing
Public sentiment on Westbrook has been ever-evolving since his prime began to slip from his grasp. His stint with the Los Angeles Lakers was the first time Westbrook received more hate than love from the basketball world.
Rivers remembers this. After Westbrook’s retirement, he first and foremost gave him his flowers.
“First-ballot Hall of Famer. Shout-out to you, man. Congrats on your retirement. Just an unbelievable player and an even better person.”
He then moved on to the people who switched up on Westbrook when the going got tough.
“Y’all been cooking him, talking crazy about him for years, belittling him, diminishing his ability and his greatness,” said Austin before prophesying that other NBA superstars who never won a title would receive a similar treatment toward the end of their careers.
“You’re gonna do this with Devin in Phoenix? You gonna do this with Donovan in Cleveland? The answer should be no, because these guys still pass the torch. These guys still put in work. They still shed blood, sweat and tears for the city,” said Rivers.
Rivers concluded his rant with a powerful statement: “Winning isn’t everything.”
Austin Rivers calls out the media and NBA fans for failing to appreciate Russell Westbrook during his career, and predicts James Harden, Devin Booker, and Donovan Mitchell won’t get their proper respect until they’re gone
(h/t @big_business_ ) pic.twitter.com/qXjttbgqGh
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 14, 2026
A plethora of NBA greats have come and gone, with dozens of greats never winning a championship. Allen Iverson is perhaps the most influential sports figure of the 2000s, and he should be celebrated as such.
Westbrook was a polarizing figure. However, it should be noted that he retired averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists in his final NBA season while playing 64 games. These aren’t the stats of a player ready to call it quits.
Yet, the narrative surrounding him and the overall negative overview of his playing style turned several teams off him.
Rivers’ request for appreciating NBA legends and future first ballot Hall-of-Famers is rooted in truth and necessity. Westbrook deserves his flowers now as he did while he was playing.
