Houston Rockets superstar point guard Russell Westbrook admits NBA players needed a mini-break following the tragic Jacob Blake shooting in Wisconsin.
Blake was shot seven times in the back by the police. He’s now paralyzed from the waist down, and Blake’s attorney doesn’t believe his client will walk again.
Westbrook opened up on the shooting and NBA players going on strike:
Russell Westbrook on the Jacob Blake shooting: “I watched the video. It’s heartbreaking. It’s something you can’t explain and it’s something that’s just not right.”
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) August 28, 2020
Russell Westbrook: “I think we all needed a pause – emotionally, physically, mentally. The pause was for a greater cause: for all the social issues in our world today. Based on recent police killings and shootings, it allowed us to use our platform.”
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) August 28, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their Game 5 against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday following the Jacob Blake shooting. The NBA has been on a pause ever since, but games are set to resume on Saturday.
Russell Westbrook is expected to play for the Rockets in Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston and OKC are tied at 2-2, and the Rockets need Westbrook back as soon as possible after losing Games 3 and 4.
While Westbrook’s quad may not be 100 percent, the Rockets are in jeopardy of going down 3-2 since the Thunder have all the momentum in the series. It may not be ideal since the team would have likely loved to rest Westbrook for the entire first round so he’s fresh for the Los Angeles Lakers series, but the Rockets require Westbrook’s services against the Thunder.
During the regular season, Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists in his first campaign with the Rockets. The former MVP shot 47.2 percent from the field, 25.8 percent from beyond the arc and 76.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Russell Westbrook has career playoff averages of 25.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists. The Rockets are certainly thrilled that The Brodie is back.
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