Patrick Beverley believes sustained media criticism contributed to the best way NBA groups and followers seen Russell Westbrook, finally affecting the veteran guard’s alternatives late in his profession.
Talking after Westbrook announced his retirement on August 12, Beverley argued that media narratives grew to become influential sufficient to form public notion and the selections made by NBA organizations.
“I feel the media is so sturdy that it allowed followers to name him names,” Beverley stated. “It allowed followers to have opinions about his recreation, which additionally pressured staff house owners, GMs, presidents to take a look at him a sure approach.”
Beverley particularly questioned why Westbrook was unable to safe one other NBA alternative regardless of his manufacturing and résumé. He in contrast Westbrook’s state of affairs with that of different guards, utilizing Lonnie Walker for instance.
“While you discuss guards that’s within the NBA and it’s no disrespect to guys that’s on present groups however once you discuss you see Lonnie Walker and it’s no disrespect to Lonnie Walker he’s a very good buddy of mine but when he could make a NBA staff Russell Westbrook could make an NBA staff surely,” Beverley stated.
Westbrook, 37, introduced his retirement after an 18-season NBA profession. He completed his profession with the Sacramento Kings through the 2025-26 season, the place he averaged 12.8 factors, 5.3 assists and three.1 rebounds per recreation in 40 appearances, in keeping with the provided season knowledge.
His closing NBA season got here after a profession that established him as one of many league’s best particular person gamers. Westbrook completed his profession with 209 regular-season triple-doubles, probably the most in NBA historical past, and received the 2017 MVP award after averaging a triple-double for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Throughout 1,301 regular-season video games, Westbrook averaged 20.9 factors, 8.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds per recreation. He scored 27,176 factors, rating 14th in NBA historical past, whereas his 10,351 assists positioned him fifth on the league’s all-time listing.
Westbrook additionally earned 9 All-Star alternatives and a number of All-NBA honors whereas successful two scoring titles and three assists titles. He was chosen to the NBA seventy fifth Anniversary Group and received an Olympic gold medal with Group USA in 2012.
Beverley and Westbrook additionally share a historical past as NBA guards who competed in opposition to one another all through their careers. Beverley spent 14 NBA seasons with Houston, the Clippers, Minnesota, the Lakers, Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Detroit and different groups, whereas Westbrook performed for seven franchises.
