During a recent episode of the ‘Million Dollaz Worth of Game’ podcast, Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell detailed his experience meeting Russell Westbrook for the first time. According to Mitchell, it wasn’t exactly a warm welcome from Russell, who was getting ready for a game at the time.
“I was a big Russell Westbrook fan, when he was dunking on people and he just be walking around screaming. I got to see him when he was on the bench and he’s doing his dances and shit and I’m over here in warmups like ‘bet where he at?’ So I see him and then just he stops and stares at me and I’m like “Oh shit”. We get into the game and I foul him on a shot fake and I tell him ‘good move’ and he’s like ‘who the f*ck are you.’ After that it was all love.”
Russell Westbrook isn’t known for being a particularly friendly character and it seems that stigma held true for his meeting with Donovan Mitchell. He was reserved and almost standoffish, but nothing unexpected for the veteran point guard.
Donovan Mitchell was drafted 13th overall in 2017, which is presumably when he first met Westbrook. Back then, Mitchell was still just an unproven rookie on the Jazz and he was trying to speak to his childhood idol, who was already an MVP and multiple-time All-Star with the Thunder.
At his peak, Westbrook was among the best players in the game and the face of Thunder basketball. During his MVP campaign in 2016-17, he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game on 42% shooting.
Along with his natural talent and relentless playstyle, Westbrook’s extremely competitive spirit made him a favorite among the fans. Unfortunately, it also rubbed some people the wrong way.
For years now, Westbrook has been criticized for his flaws and his unapologetic approach to the game. During his stint with the Lakers years ago, Russ was the center of blame among fans. And when the situation turned toxic, Russell’s legacy was the one that suffered.
Today, over five years later, it’s clear that Westbrook is not the same player he used to be. And while that fiery spirit remains unchanged, his role as a backup guard is still unfamiliar territory for the 9x All-Star. Meanwhile, Mitchell is entering his prime after one of the best seasons of his career.
As it stands now, the roles of Mitchell and Westbrook have reversed from what they were 5+ years ago. At 27 years old, Mitchell is the star and he’s currently one of the best guards in the league in his prime. As he leads the Cavaliers on a max contract and proves that he’s capable of being the top option, the pressure will be on him to meet expectations and take the Cavaliers to new heights in the East.
No doubt, he’ll be looking to take a page from Westbrook’s book. He sought to lead his own team years ago and while he failed in bringing them a championship, he left nothing on the table in the pursuit of success. Donovan Mitchell will need to bring a similar passion in order to find success with the Cavaliers.
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