Stephen A. Smith wasn’t feeling Russell Westbrook’s record-setting triple-double on Monday. The ESPN analyst gave his reaction of the Washington Wizards guard having 35 points, 21 assists and 14 rebounds in a win over the Indiana Pacers.
“And here’s the thing about Westbrook’s big night: I don’t give a damn about any of it,” Smith said on ESPN on Tuesday morning (h/t NBC Sports Washington), “Because the Wizards aren’t very good. They’re not going anywhere. You’re 17-28 in the Eastern Conference for crying out loud. You’re not going anywhere, and this isn’t the first time Russell Westbrook has played on a team that has fallen short.”
Smith continued questioning Westbrook’s lack of development with three-point shooting and his lack of winning a championship. He also noted the teammates Westbrook has played with, including Kevin Durant, James Harden, Paul George, Victor Oladipo and currently Bradley Beal. Yet the 2017 NBA MVP hasn’t won a championship.
“I just wish he used those competitive fires, that will to win, to develop his long-range game, at least a little bit,” Smith said. “If Russell Westbrook was a better 3-point shooter, could you imagine what he would’ve done? I’m here to tell you he would’ve won a championship by now.”
Russell Westbrook’s wife, Nina, didn’t take too kindly about Smith’s critisicm. The former UCLA women’s basketball star clapped back at the First Take host using her IG story to defend her husband.
“So… how tiring it is to be minding your own business and have notifications pop up on your phone about people being negative and hating on your family,” Nina Westbrook wrote on her Instagram Stories in response to Smith’s commentary. “There are several things wrong with what @stephenasmith says here.”
“Ironically, Russell makes history and @stephenasmith comes out of nowhere to share his non-congratulations,” Nina Westbrook wrote. “When he does bad we hear about it, when he does will we don’t hear about it OR @stephenasmith has to make sure that his accomplishments are diminished. Respectfully, I’m not a fan of yours.”
“Russell is the happiest he’s ever been,” she continued. “Not having a championship does not ‘hurt him a lot.’ You know nothing about him. If you did, you’d know that he is way way way more than a championship. He is a champion of life. A champion of his people. He doesn’t care about YOUR championship, and certainly not YOUR opinion.”
The Wizards played Tuesday on the back end of a back-to-back, losing to the Charlotte Hornets 114-104. Despite the loss, Russell Westbrook recorded his 17th triple-double of the season, already a Wizards franchise record, with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists.
Westbrook responded to Smith’s comment, as well, following the game.
Russell Westbrook is in his 13th season in the NBA. He has yet to win an NBA title despite having a good group of teammates. However, he is an NBA MVP. He has recorded 163 triple-doubles in his career which is only second to Oscar Robertson all-time.
His numerous accolades include being a nine-time All-Star, two-time All-Star Game MVP, nine-time All-NBA, and two-time scoring champion. He is putting together a Hall of Fame career.
Still, there are fans and pundits that will measure his success by the lack of NBA championships. Stephen A. Smith’s comments weren’t off-base, but considering the success Westbrook has had, it’s understandable why he and his wife clapped back to the criticism.
