Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook appeared ignore a young fan who wanted a signature while he made NBA history against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
NBA stars - and sports icons in general - are often looked up to as role models for fans and young children. However, Westbrook appeared to shun the opportunity to endear himself with fans in an incident that was heavily criticised after it went viral on social media.
Footage showed the 2017 NBA MVP blatantly ignore a young fan who wanted him to sign his jersey. Players are people too and undoubtedly deserve privacy, but Westbrook was hardly swamped by a stampede of followers when he was entering a restaurant.
Perhaps Westbrook is aware that many sites are run by people who sadly use young kids - often their own children - to get signatures from stars like the Lakers point guard before selling them online for a tidy profit. Signed Westbrook jerseys range anywhere from $300 to $3,999.
The disapproval aimed at Westbrook for his ugly actions with the young fan has clouded what should be a time spent somewhat celebrating the nine-time All-Star’s carer. In the road loss to the Nets, Westbrook cracked the NBA’s top 10 list for all-time assists.
The Lakers were without both LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the trip to Brooklyn, and Los Angeles fell 121-104 as Westbrook scored 17 points along with eight rebounds and 10 assists. It meant the 34-year-old reached 8,962 dimes - and he admitted he never expected to reach such figures in his career.
“I don't take none of these game for granted since day one,” Westbrook said. ”I’m very blessed and grateful and thankful to go out and compete. I never cheat the game. I go out and compete every nights. I do my job every single night regardless of all the things that are thrown at me.
“It means a lot, just from where I started to where I'm at. Where I grew up at to be sitting here. If somebody had told me 15 years ago, 20 years ago, 'You'll be top 10 in assists,' I'd look at them like they were crazy.”
Westbrook joins two other active players on the list, as James is sixth while Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul is third. Westbrook passed Gary Payton to crack the top 10 in the first half against the Nets.
He needs 89 more assists to reach Isaiah Thomas at ninth. Westbrook will get the opportunity to add to his career tally when the 23-28 Lakers face the New York Knicks - seventh in the Eastern Conference - on Tuesday night.
