If there is an offseason that had really altered the course of the league, it was the one in 2019. Many superstars ended up changing their teams and while some of the deals were happening out in the open, there were also some behind-the-scenes rumors that have just recently come to light. However, it seems like Russell Westbrook is tired of the journalists bringing up questions without citing a source.
With the Los Angeles Lakers all set to meet the LA Clippers, the topic of Westbrook teaming up with Kawhi Leonard back then came up during a discussion. However, the conversation quickly spiraled out of control when he confronted the reporter about the claims that he made.
Russell Westbrook completely lost his cool
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It is common knowledge that Russell Westbrook is not very fond of the media. He has often expressed a harsh opinion about how they conduct their business. Therefore, this interview after a workout session with the Lakers superstar wasn’t any different.
It began when The Athletic’s Bill Oram confronted Westbrook about an article that implied a possible team-up with Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard a couple of years ago. The result was a heated conversation in which Westbrook took a shot at the way journalists conduct themselves without proper sources.
Westbrook was adamant in asking, “Who is your source?”. Bill, too, continued to pester him for an answer to his question. He stated, “You asked me a question based off a story that someone else had written, but you don’t know where they got it from, or you don’t know if it’s true.”
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Unless it comes from him, reporters should turn a blind eye?
The two parties went on to discuss how the relationship between reporters and athletes has turned sour, due to which they are hesitant to get the news directly from them. Oram explained that this leads to reporters trusting the sources instead.
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However, the guard said, “I don’t let nobody speak for me. If you don’t hear it from me, don’t go with, ‘the source said.’ Sources will get you in trouble.” To understand the intensity of the debate, read the entire transcript.
Here is a full transcript of the questions about Kawhi that Russ did not like, in which he says he does not reach out to guys about trying to team up and makes it very clear how much he hates anonymous sourcing. pic.twitter.com/4B953frIWD
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) December 2, 2021
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Finally, Westbrook emphasized the fact that if he is asked questions just based on something they hear, he will interrogate them about the source, which seems quite fair.
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