Shannon Sharpe puts Russell Westbrook on blast for blowing off media

Shannon Sharpe was not afraid to call out Russell Westbrook over his recent reluctance to speak to the media.

The Denver Nuggets guard went three consecutive games without attending his mandatory postgame press conference. Westbrook has refused to answer questions ever since the team’s stunning double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves to start the month. In the April 1 contest, Westbrook committed multiple miscues late leading to the Nuggets’ collapse down the stretch.

When Westbrook finally faced the media on Sunday, he basically answered “I don’t know” to every question raised.

During a recent episode of his “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe slammed Westbrook for ducking his obligations as a professional athlete.

“That’s a part of your obligation,” Sharpe told his co-host, Chad Johnson. “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.”

“One thing I prided myself on. I hated to lose. I did. When I was growing up, I would cry. I would kick things and tear things. And my granny said, ‘I’m gonna tear your a– up, because you not gonna be winning everything in life, and you not going to be doing this.’ I just don’t get it, man.”

The Nuggets have looked out of sorts on the court since the loss to the T-Wolves. The team has gone 0-4 in April, including a 113-106 loss at home against an undermanned San Antonio Spurs squad.

The current tailspin that the team is on led to the Nuggets’ stunning decision to fire head coach Michael Malone with the playoffs right around the corner.