Sports
‘Who Is Your Source’: Russell Westbrook Blasts Journalists for Kawhi Leonard Team-Up Rumors
If there is an offseason that really altered the course of the league, it was the one in 2019. Many superstars ended up changing their teams and while some of the dealings were happening out in the open, there were also some behind-the-scenes rumors that have just recently come to light. However, it seems like Russell Westbrook is tired of the journalists bringing up questions without citing a source.
With the Los Angeles Lakers all set to meet the LA Clippers, the topic of Westbrook teaming up with Kawhi Leonard back then came up during a discussion. However, the conversation quickly spiraled out of control when Russ confronted the reporter about the claims that he made.
Russell Westbrook completely lost his cool
Sep 28, 2021; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) answers questions during media day at the UCLA Health and Training Center in El Segundo, Calif. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
It isn’t news that Russell Westbrook is not very fond of media. He has often expressed a harsh opinion about how they conduct their business. Therefore, this interview after a workout session with the Lakers superstar wasn’t any different.
It began when The Athletic’s Bill Oram confronted Russ about an article that implied a possible team-up with Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard a couple of years ago. The result was a heated conversation in which Westbrook took a shot at the way journalists conduct themselves without proper sources.
Russ was adamant in asking, “Who is your source?”. But Bill, too, continued to pester him for an answer to his question. He stated, “You asked me a question based off a story that someone else had written, but you don’t know where they got it from, or you don’t know if it’s true.”
WATCH THIS STORY: Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and Other NBA Stars Who Have Dazzled at the Met Gala Over the Years
Unless it comes from him, reporters should turn a blind eye?
The two parties went on to discuss how the relationship between reporters and athletes has turned sour, because of which there is a hesitation to get the news directly from them. Oram explained that this leads to reporters trusting the sources instead.
However, the guard said, “I don’t let nobody speak for me. If you don’t hear it from me, don’t go with, ‘the source said.’ Sources will get you in trouble.” To understand the intensity of the debate, read the entire transcript.
Here is a full transcript of the questions about Kawhi that Russ did not like, in which he says he does not reach out to guys about trying to team up and makes it very clear how much he hates anonymous sourcing. pic.twitter.com/4B953frIWD
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) December 2, 2021
Finally, Westbrook emphasized the fact that if he is asked questions just based on something they hear, he will interrogate them about the source, which seems quite fair.
READ MORE: Here’s How Russell Westbrook and His Why Not Foundation Continued Their Long Thanksgiving Tradition
The post ‘Who Is Your Source’: Russell Westbrook Blasts Journalists for Kawhi Leonard Team-Up Rumors appeared first on EssentiallySports.