Russell Westbrook refused to rest against Pistons, wanted Reggie Jackson matchup
Russell Westbrook wanted to go up against his former teammates
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2 min read
In late March, the Oklahoma City Thunder visited the Detroit Pistons and decided to rest Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka on the second night of a back to back. Russell Westbrook could have rested as well, but he didn't want to waste one of his two opportunities a year to go up against former teammate Reggie Jackson. That's how Thunder center Nazr Mohammed saw it, anyway.
From The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater:
Nazr Mohammed when asked about Russell Westbrook: "I like Russell going out there, being pumped, I mean, what's the game when we were playing against ... I hate to mention his name, when we were playing against Detroit. It was nice to see a game where sometimes they expect you to sit out, but I love to see Russ like 'sit out against Reggie (Jackson)? I want to play.' I love seeing stuff like that, and then go out there. I love how Russ looks at the opposing point guard and he wants to kill everybody. I love it."
Mohammed when asked if Westbrook was supposed to sit out against Jackson and Detroit on March 29: "I can't tell you what they asked Russell. I don't know. From the outside ... I'm sitting over there like you (looks at media), and you had Kevin sit out and you had Serge sit out. I assumed Russell was going to sit out, and then I looked over and he's putting on his uniform. This is just my assumption. I'm looking over and thinking to myself. I'm thinking like 'oh, that's Russ right there. Russ like sit out? He wants to play against the best players. We're playing against Reggie.' I mean, they've had their words. He's playing against Reggie. Russ wants to go out there, like 'OK, he was here (in Oklahoma City), you're gone, you said some things, I want to play.' This is just my assumption. Russ didn't tell me this, but this is just me looking over at him putting on a jersey when I thought he was going to sit out, and he was like 'no, I'm ready to go.' I love it, though. That's what it's all about."
In that game, Jackson celebrated after hitting a couple of crucial buckets, and the Thunder didn't take kindly to it. Westbrook said he thought it was "bulls***." When Oklahoma City lost to the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, Jackson tweeted a smirking emoji. Both guards are as competitive as anyone you'll find in the NBA, and Mohammed's story is an example of why Kobe Bryant likes to say Westbrook has "mamba blood" in him.
It's rare these days for former teammates to actually show animosity toward each other, and it's kind of fun, isn't it? Personally, I hope Jackson makes the All-Star Game next year, so he can go up against Westbrook on a bigger stage. We already know that Westbrook takes those games seriously.
