Russell Westbrook talks about the comparisons between him and Allen Iverson
Westbrook dismisses the similarity between him and Iverson
Russell Westbrook admits winning a championship would be a great way to end his career, but that is not the most important thing for him, and he would feel okay if it didn't happen.
The Lakers are not where they want to be
After having a slow start to the season, Westbrook has been playing really well for the past 10 games. He increased his numbers all over the board, helping the Los Angeles Lakers get back on track in winning games consistently and are now in the 6th spot in a very competitive western conference.
With the Lakers completely switching their roster this summer and becoming the oldest team in the NBA, it was evident it would take time for them to adjust to playing together. They were struggling at the start of the season but now, with most of the players back in action after injuries and health & safety protocols, it seems things are falling in place, with Westbrook being one of the main reasons behind their recent surge.
Recommended Articles
Since the Lakers have the oldest roster in the NBA, their main goal is to win a title since several guys on the roster, just like Westbrook, are still waiting for their first NBA championship. After winning all the individual accolades throughout the years, getting the title would be the icing on the cake for his HOF career; however, Westbrook is not too concerned about it that much.
Westbrook discusses the comparison between him and Iverson
In an interview for ESPN, Westbrook discussed the similarities between him and Allen Iverson that NBA analysts frequently make. Even though some would say there are several reasons why they could be valid, Westbrook himself doesn't see it, and he elaborated why, after all, is said and done, winning a championship is not the biggest priority for him in his career.
"I disagree for multiple reasons," Westbrook told ESPN. "No. 1, I believe that I am a one-of-a-kind player, and I respect Allen and respect everything he's done for the game, but I'm not comparable to Allen Iverson by any means. No. 2, is that I've been probably -- I feel, myself -- always trying to fit in to do the best for the betterment of the team. And I've always done that in my career, and I'll continue to do that and whatever happens, happens. If we win a championship, cool. If we don't, I'm OK with that too and life goes on."
At the age of 33, Westbrook's window of opportunity is shrinking, which was one of the main reasons he joined the Lakers this summer. A star-studded team that has a lot to prove, and even though they didn't impress anyone so far, everyone understands the season is still long with plenty of time to figure things out. Westbrook will have to be consistent and perform at his best if the Lakers want to be in a position to win a title because right now, nobody is afraid of them or considers them a legitimate title contender.
