Russell Westbrook received a warning from the NBA for evading the media for three consecutive games. When he finally addressed the situation, his responses were filled with “I don’t know” and “I’m not sure,” providing no clarity on the Nuggets’ recent four-game losing streak. Local reporters in Denver attempted to elicit some answers, but Westbrook either had nothing to share or was unwilling to discuss the issues at hand. Meanwhile, the decision-makers reacted by firing both the head coach and general manager.
Despite Denver finding a temporary solution to its problems on Tuesday, Westbrook remained under scrutiny—not just from local reporters but also from outside voices such as Shannon Sharpe. Sharpe criticized Westbrook for his media avoidance and asked who was accountable for the Nuggets’ recent miscues, pinpointing Westbrook himself.
“Now, he did go three games without talking to the media,” Sharpe remarked. “You know what that’s about; that’s part of your obligation. That’s defined in the [CBA]. That’s why you make the big bucks. And now, when things go bad, you don’t want to talk. But when he was getting those triple-doubles, you couldn’t beat him to the microphone.”
Sharpe further emphasized, “What you do is your profession. A pro is how you go about doing your job. They’re entirely two different things, and sometimes people confuse the two. You can be a professional without being a pro, and you can be a pro without being a professional. One thing I prided myself on; I hated to lose. I would cry and kick things. My granny said, ‘You’re not going to win everything in life.’ I just don’t get it, man.”
When co-host Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson inquired if Sharpe blamed Westbrook for skipping media sessions without a cool-off period, Sharpe responded emphatically, “Yes. You go three games?” Even Nikola Jokić, despite his impressive 61-point triple-double, had to face the media.
“Everybody else has to stand and face the music,” Sharpe added. “I’m big on accountability. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. I’ve got to be man enough to say, ‘I made a mistake. I’ve got to be better.’ No matter what it is, I’ve been in tough situations where I’ve faced the consequences. I dropped a touchdown that would have clinched home-field advantage; I had to stand before the media. Because I believe sunshine follows rain. If I fail again, I’ll be man enough to say, ‘Hey, I dropped it; this one’s on me. I didn’t do my job in that moment. I let everyone down, and I have to own it.’ It’s really that simple. And that’s where Sharpe struggles to understand Westbrook’s perspective.
