Russell Westbrook Has Responded to Not Starting in The All-Star Game

Russell Westbrook said he doesn't play basketball to start in the All-Star Game.

Gary A. Vasquez
USA Today Sports

Image via USA Today Sports

Gary A. Vasquez

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Russell Westbrook will not start in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. This is big news because Westbrook is averaging a triple-double, and he’s one of the favorites to win this year’s MVP award—along with James Harden, who’s having an absolutely ridiculous season with his new head coach, Mike D’Antoni.

So, how could someone possibly get an All-Star starting nod over Russy? The player would have to be a fan favorite—it’d be the only way to overcome the vote of the players and media, who surely would support Westbrook.

Indeed, that’s exactly how it played out, and the man to get Westbrook’s spot in the backcourt alongside Harden was none other than two-time reigning MVP Stephen Curry.

Though Westbrook got the most votes of any Western Conference guard from the players and media, he finished third among the fans, and the fans’ vote accounted for 50 percent of the weighted total (the players and media each got 25 percent). Steph finished first among the fans, allowing him to overtake Brodie.

The fan vote left Russell Westbrook off the All-Star starting line up. pic.twitter.com/l2jGOAkVVi

How did Curry feel about it? He responded Friday.

"It’s a big storyline just because, like you said, those two guys are doing amazing things this year," Curry said. "And there’s only two spots that you can fill. So unfortunately, somebody was going to be left out. I’ve been on the other side of that four years ago. That’s how it goes. The fact I get to represent my team and be able to start is something I definitely appreciate."

Westbrook responded, too, in the most Westbrookian way possible.

“It is what it is,” Westbrook said Friday, according to ESPN. “That’s the nature of the business, the game. I just play. I don’t play for All-Star bids. I play to win championships and every night I compete at a high level, and it’ll work out. I just continue doing what I’m doing and play the game the right way and everything else will work out.”

He went on to say that winning the players’ vote “doesn’t change anything for me. It’s a great honor…and being an All-Star is something you don’t take for granted. But like I said, I don’t play to play in the All-Star [Game]…I play to become a better player and to win championships.”

Classic Russ. Though we think he deserved it and it would have been really interesting to see Westbrook, Harden, and Durant back on the floor together again (better days, am I right?), this will only fuel Westbrook’s insatiable fire to dominate, and that’s a good thing for all NBA fans.

I foresee a third straight All-Star Game MVP for Brodie.

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