Russell Westbrook Critics Led Skip Bayless to Need a Bodyguard at OKC

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Russell Westbrook has always been a lightning rod since entering the NBA.

Praised for his otherworldly athleticism and criticized for his propensity to be an overzealous shooter, Westbrook is the very definition of polarization.

Westbrook’s style of play has been endearing to fans and effective enough to land him in the playoffs 11 times in his career. It has also landed him in four teams in each of the past four seasons.

A frequent critic of Westbrook has been FS1’s own Skip Bayless, and those criticisms at one point became too much for some fans in Oklahoma City – Bayless’ hometown.

During an episode of “The Skip Bayless Show” podcast, Bayless recalled how he received death threats from Oklahoma City Thunder fans during the 2012 NBA Finals.

“Real, real, unconditional death threats,” Bayless said. “I thought they were legitimate death threats, so I passed them on to ESPN security. So as we’re about to venture into my hometown of Oklahoma City, they must have Hire me a bodyguard, who ended up being a Los Angeles cop whose main duty was to serve and protect the police chief when he went out in public.”

Skip Bayless needed a bodyguard at OKC after criticizing Westbrook

Skip Bayless shares why he needed a bodyguard when he returned to his hometown of Oklahoma City for the NBA Finals after criticizing former Thunder star Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook averaged 23.1 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 43.5% from the field in this run to the NBA Finals, although the Thunder ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in five games.

Westbrook’s star continued to rise from then on, however, and he eventually won the NBA MVP award in the 2016-17 season.

Bayless pointed out that while Westbrook has been a great player on an individual basis and as a triple-double machine, he says the player prioritizes compiling stats over winning. And he said the Lakers’ struggles this season back up his criticism.

“He’s been exposed for exactly what he is, nothing but a great sideshow, solo act, stat machine,” Bayless said. “…And now, Russell West-brick, is THE reason the NBA’s preseason betting favorite – LeBron’s Lakers – is now a .500 team.”

Click here to listen to more and subscribe to “The Skip Bayless Show”.

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