This offseason has featured numerous players switching sides, from the likes of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Paul Millsap, Ricky Rubio, Danilo Gallinari, Chris Paul, Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Brook Lopez, D'Angelo Russel, Jimmy Butler, and Jeff Teague. This offseason also had NBA rules and schedule changes to make next season a better one for fans, players, and stakeholders of the NBA. Here are a few more updates on the NBA scene lately:
Westbrook has not signed on contract extension
This year the leagues Most Valuable Player had an amazing season as he carried the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Playoffs despite a lack luster supporting cast.
He not only was amazing but he also averaged a triple double for the entire season. This offseason was a record breaking one in terms of contracts with Stephen Curry signing the biggest contract in NBA history with a 200 million dollar deal, James Harden also signed the leagues biggest extension contract with the Houston Rockets.
But Russell Westbrook this offseason, despite being eligible, did not yet sign his contract extension yet as reported by Royce Young of NBA ESPN. There have been rumors that he is likely going to sign the deal and spend his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook has had an amazing stat line with career averages of points, blocks, assists, rebounds, free throw percentage, and three point percentage.
Specifically, last season he averaged 31.6 points, 0.4 blocks, 1.6 steals, 10.4 assists, and 10.7 rebounds while shooting 42.5 percent from the field, 34.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.5 percent from the charity stripe.
The King defends his new teammate
NBA fans have made it a point to burn jerseys of their favorite players once they leave their respective teams.
It was the case for him when he left Miami, it was the case for Hayward when he left Utah, it was the case when Paul George left the Indiana Pacers, and it was the case of LeBron's new teammate in Isaiah Thomas.
ESPN has reported that LeBron James this offseason went to the rescue of his new teammate and other superstars as he went on a Twitter rant saying Isaiah got traded so why would you burn his jersey?, LeBron also said that Isaiah still played for the city even after losing his sister, he later on said that sometimes players put in the work and sacrifice themselves for the team but there comes a point in one's career where you have to do what you feel is best for yourself, for your family, for your happiness, and for your profession.
