Google News Los Angeles Lakers' Russell Westbrook talks harrasment his family has faced
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook joined his wife Nina in detailing what the Westbrook has been going through this season. Nina Westbrook took to Twitter, where she claimed she is getting "harrased" every day over basketball games.
Also, she said the Westbrook family is getting "death wishes." On Monday night, the Lakers played the San Antonio Spurs. Westbrook scored 17 points in a 117-110 loss to the Spurs. "I 100 percent stand behind my wife and how she's feeling," Westbrook said after the game, per ESPN.
"When it comes to basketball, I don't mind the criticism of missing and making shots. But the moment it becomes where my name is getting shamed, it becomes an issue. "I've kind of let it go in the past because it never really bothered me.
But it really kind of hit me the other day. Me and my wife were at teacher-parent conferences for my son. And the teacher told me, 'Noah, he's so proud of his last name. He writes it everywhere. He writes it on everything. He tells everybody and walks around and says, 'I'm Westbrook.'
... And I kind of sat there in shock, and it hit me, like, 'Damn. I can no longer allow people [to besmirch my name].' "
Westbrook on the 'Westbrick' taunt
Westbrook is the highest-paid Laker as he is set to earn $44 million this year.
Westbrook's shooting has been the subject of criticism this season and some fans taunt Westbrook on social media by calling him "Westbrick." "'Westbrick,' for example, to me, is now shaming," Westbrook said, referring to a condescending nickname that makes the rounds online seemingly whenever he has a poor performance.
"It's shaming my name, my legacy for my kids. It's a name that means, not just to me, but to my wife, to my mom, my dad, the ones that kind of paved the way for me." Westbrook underlined that he has had enough and that he won't people to shame his name.
"A lot of times, I let it slide. But now it's time to put a stop to that and put it on notice," Westbrook said. "There's a difference. We need to make sure it's understood. And every time I do hear it now, I will make sure that I address it and make sure I nip that in the bud."
