Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook has established himself as a fierce competitor in the NBA. As a result, Westbrook isn’t often seen socializing with the opposition.
Westbrook is one of a few players around the league that developed that mindset, which many believe is an old-school type of outlook since players in previous decades had the same view.
Future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce singled out Westbrook and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in that regard. In a recent interview with ESPN, Antetokounmpo told reporter Adrian Wojnarowski that he has no interest in being friendly with his foes.
While a lot of players around the league are friendly with each other, Pierce said Wednesday on NBA Countdown that Westbrook and Antetokounmpo are part of a rare breed that is not in the business of making friends.
When you look at the league — 300-plus players — I only can think of two guys like that: The Greek Freak and Russell Westbrook. After that, they all hang out. There is nothing wrong with it, it’s just these guys carry the most competitive edge in the league and I would say those two guys are the most competitive in the NBA today.
Westbrook has picked up quite a few enemies in the NBA recently. He has infamously beefed with players like Patrick Beverley, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic and others.
Meanwhile, The Greek Freak has said in the past that he will not work out during the offseason with other players. It’s a mindset some have, and others don’t. Pierce was joined by Stan Van Gundy and Jason Kidd on the broadcast as Van Gundy liked Antetokounmpo’s stance on the matter.
The two players have certainly become some of the best players in the league and it doesn’t appear that they will be making many new friends in the coming days.
Coincidentally enough, the Thunder and Bucks play each other on the last day of the regular season in Milwaukee on April 10.
