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Warriors' Stephen Curry speaks up for Lakers' Russell Westbrook: 'I respect how he's handled the whole year'


 


Russell Westbrook is not exactly the most popular person in the world of the Los Angeles Lakers. In the last week, CBS Sports has published the following stories about him:


Russell Westbrook, Lakers have 'mutual interest' in finding point guard a new team this offseason, per report (March 3)


  • Magic Johnson: Russell Westbrook trade could go down as 'worst' in Lakers history if they don't make playoffs (March 5)
  • Lakers want Russell Westbrook demoted to bench yet so far Frank Vogel has resisted, per report (March 6)
  • Lakers' Russell Westbrook sounds as vulnerable as you'll ever hear him as he addresses 'shaming' of his name (March 8)
  • Lakers' coaches pushed for Russell Westbrook trade at deadline, per report (March 9)
  • Russell Westbrook learns what it's like to play in LeBron James' world as Lakers season goes sideways (March 10)


Westbrook is having a nightmare season for a 28-37 Lakers team that has been flailing since preseason. After a loss in San Antonio on Monday, he said that he "can no longer allow people" to call him "Westbrick," as it constitutes "shaming my name, my legacy for my kids." Westbrook added, "It's gotten so bad where my family doesn't even want to go to home games, any game, because of the media across the globe using their platform to constantly shame, shame, shame me."


Two days before that, when the Golden State Warriors visited Los Angeles, Stephen Curry privately offered Westbrook some support. And since then, Curry has spoken up for him publicly, via Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. 


"I told him when we played them in L.A. a couple of days ago that I respect how he's handled the whole year, just in terms of everything he's been saying and how he's been handling himself and protecting his family," Curry told Yahoo Sports. "It is the nature of the beast. And in a certain perspective, they build you up to break you down. The real ones who have done amazing things in this league know what that means. He's a professional, and I'm proud of the way he's conducting himself, and I'm there for him."


Curry continued: "The fan perspective, it is kind of B.S. when it crosses the line in terms of attacking somebody personally, their name, and not keeping it to just basketball. That's why we're all here is because of basketball. But at the end of the day, you have to do what you have to do to speak up for yourself and also understand that the guys that know what's going on in this league respect the type of player he is. Russ definitely has my support."


Reasonable people may disagree about whether or not the derisive nickname "Westbrick" crosses the line. It's unclear whether Westbrook and Curry are taking issue primarily with fan behavior at arenas, fans' comments on social media or criticism from the media -- and the three should not be conflated. All that's really clear is that one former MVP is sticking up for another in a general way. 



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