Even though he's polarizing and seems to draw way more backlash than the regular star, Russell Westbrook is known among his former teammates for being a class act.
He may be a fierce competitor on the court and a guy that's going to talk trash to you, but Westbrook is actually a pretty good guy. He's caring, he gets involved with the community and is a nice person to be around, according to several of his former teammates.
That part of personality was in full display again last night, as he penned a heartfelt goodbye to the Washington Wizards and its fans after being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers:
"Thank you DC! You welcomed my family and I with open arms from day one. Everyone from the front office, to the training staff, the coaches, my teammates, and the fans. I’m grateful y’all took a chance on me and supported me every step of the way. I’m blessed to have been a part of such a stand up organization. It didn’t take long to make a home in DC, and I will forever be grateful and appreciative of my experience with the organization. Thank you!" Westbrook wrote on social media.
While he was only there for one season, Westbrook clearly gave it all on the court night in and night out for the Wizards. He even helped them clinch a spot in the playoffs this season, which seemed impossible for most of the year.
Westbrook also made history wearing the Wizards' jersey, as he became the league's all-time leader in triple-doubles last season.
So, while not the ending that most Wizards fans expected, you just can't hold anything against him. He wanted to go home and win a championship but he gave it all every single night while he was there.
More must-reads: