Russell Westbrook is not a buyout guy – Ramona Shelburne

NBA analyst Ramona Shelburne feels Russell Westbrook wouldn’t agree to a buyout from LA Lakers. Westbrook was added to the franchise ahead of the previous season of the NBA and he was expected to make a winning combination with Anthony Davis and LeBron James to lead them to another title.

However, things didn’t go as planned for the franchise as Davis and James had to spend most of their time on the sidelines due to their respective injuries while Westbrook’s performance was not up to the mark.

In fact, the trio could only play 21 matches together and had an 11-10 record in them. Shelburne reckons Westbrook would not want to part ways with the LA Lakers as it is not his style and he has achieved a lot in his career because of his swagger.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said on Zach Lowe’s podcast “The Lowe Post”: Russell Westbrook is not a buyout guy. You have to agree to a buyout, and that’s not how he is wired. This is a guy who is very proud, and if you accept a buyout once in your career, you’re seen differently throughout the rest of your career.”

She added, “Russ is Russ because of his swagger and the way he bleeds with it, the way he plays with it. You can’t retreat from that. You can’t let go of that because that’s what made Russ, Russ – it’s his swagger. If he accepts that, then he’s no longer Russell Westbrook.”

Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 78 games in the previous season and he will be looking to come up with a much-improved show.

On the other hand, Westbrook has recently received a lot of backing from the team’s head coach Darvin Ham. Furthermore, the team’s owner and president Jeanie Buss rated him as the team’s best player in the previous season.