Russell Westbrook snarls through most NBA games hell-bent on personally destroying his opponents. But that on-court persona clashes with a gentler side he can show with his family and Thunder fans. Never was this stark divide more apparent than before Oklahoma City's 117-110 win over the visiting Suns on Sunday. Before taking the court, he saw a young fan eating a slice of pizza behind the bench. He attempted to negotiate the snack away from the boy, and even offered a sneaker for the slice. The kid kept the sneaker, but Russ lost out on the pregame slice.
"I had a conversation with him, just asked him if he wanted to switch the pizza for the shoe," Russ said after the game. "He decided to keep it." When he was asked how the traded ended up (hard-hitting journalism!), he admitted "I actually came out on the very low end of the trade."
The fan drives a hard bargain. But he got Westbrook's sneaker and that slice too.
At least Russ got the win, pouring in 23 points and dishing seven dimes in the victory.
