“Without you guys, I don’t know where I would be. I can’t be standing here without your support, your sacrifice, everything you’ve done for me.” With tears in his eyes, an emotional Russell Westbrook delivered this message to his family members after he won the MVP trophy in 2017. Obviously, family has been a big part of Brodie’s life ever since he was a little kid to now, in the latter stages of his hoops career suiting up for the Nuggets. So, let’s dive deeper into his roots and see how it has impacted the superstar’s life.

While the Showtime Lakers were busy taking over the league, Russ took his first breath on November 12, 1988, in Long Beach, California. Well, he was destined to carry his family’s legacy from the moment he was named Russell, because both his father and grandfather shared the same name. His dad, along with his mother, Shannon, did a great job raising Russ and his brother, Raynard.

Because Russell Westbrook was born and raised in California and his parents have spent their lives in the USA, his ethnicity remains unclear to the general public, however, some distant sources do suggest that he’s African-American. Even the hooper’s grandparents were reportedly from Arkansas, which means that his family has lived in America for generations.

Sure enough, Russ is a Team USA player and has also represented the nation in the London Olympics, where he won Gold. He achieved the same in the FIBA World Cup. As it turns out, Brodie’s father also played ball early in life, and practiced for hours with the Nuggets star while he was growing up! That explains why Russ is so passionate about the sport because he has been raised that way.

Russell Westbrook revealed family’s impact on his success and giving back to his hometown

Well, Westbrook has very strong family roots and it has surely helped him become the man he is today. During his MVP acceptance speech, he made sure to thank his parents for everything they had done for him- “My parents, man, you guys did any and everything to make sure me and my brother had anything we wanted.” He even revealed the hardships that they went through to make his dreams come true, “Pops OG, working two jobs, getting up at 4 in the morning, waking me up every night, going to the gym.”

Obviously, Russ did not forget to acknowledge his mother’s selfless contributions too, “To my mom from doing everything to keep our family together. Truly blessed to have you as my mother.”

Not only his parents, but Russell Westbrook was also grateful to his brother, who he deemed his role model. Apart from his constant dominance on the court, Beastbrook has made sure that he gives back to the community in California where he was born and raised.

Recently, Mr. Triple Double unveiled the newly expanded campus of the Westbrook Academy in the City of Angels. “LEGACY! Think… WHYNOT? Grateful and blessed beyond words. For the inner city. – The Brodie,” the hooper wrote, sharing the moment. It just shows how much family and community mean to him and he continues to take his culture forward with such off-court initiatives.