“I Don’t Need a Picture With Michael Jordan Right Now”: Russell Westbrook Reveals a Hilarious Story From His Childhood

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook had a time in his childhood when he had the opportunity to meet the legendary Michael Jordan but didn’t utilize it. Two days since the release of the documentary on Jordan, The Last Dance, Westbrook narrated the incident in an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”

It was the first time that he had an opportunity to meet Jordan. “I probably was about 10 or 11 [years old],” Westbrook recalled. “I went to a Michael Jordan camp. My parents sent me to his camp in Santa Barbara.”

Westbrook said the children usually stand in a line to meet Jordan at the end of the camp. The children would bring something like a ball to get Jordan’s autograph on. When it was his turn, Jordan recalled, he was in the middle of a game and just continued playing.

“My coach was like come on, come on, you’re going to miss the opportunity to get a picture with Michael Jordan. and an autograph with him. Myself, I said ‘Don’t worry, I’m okay, I don’t need it right now.’ So I didn’t get a pic with Michael Jordan, didn’t get an autograph. I literally didn’t get in line. I just kept playing basketball, kept hooping.

“When camp was over and I got home, my mom and dad were like, ‘Did you get the ball signed?’ I literally was like, ‘No, I was playing in a pickup game.’ At the time, it didn’t click to me.”

Russell Westbrook can more than just meeting Michael Jordan now

Currently a star player himself, Westbrook can meet Jordan with greater ease. And it is not that Westbrook is not a fan of Jordan. Westbrook, who played 11 seasons for Oklahoma City Thunder, became a part of the Oklahoma City Thunder Hall of Fame in 2016. Interestingly, it was Jordan whom he had called out then to honor him.

After enjoying a successful career in Oklahoma, Westbrook joined Houston Rockets prior to the start of the 2019/20 season. He rejoined James Harden with aspirations adding rings to his accomplishments. Prior to the league’s suspension, the Rockets were sixth in the Western Conference with a win-loss record of 40-24.