Damian Lillard Reveals How Russell Westbrook Should Handle Criticism

Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook have had their fair share of on-court battles.

BYAlexander Cole
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Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook have been rivals for quite a while now. The two had some pretty epic battles when Westbrook was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and for a while there, it looked like they didn't like each other very much. However, in an appearance on Shannon Sharpe's "Club Shay Shay," it became apparent that Lillard actually has a ton of respect for the Los Angeles Lakers point guard.

As many are already aware, Westbrook has been through the wringer this year in terms of criticism. With that in mind, Sharpe asked Lillard how Westbrook should handle the noise. That's when Lillard gave his take on the situation, all while offering up some high praise to his rival.


"Face the music & just deal with it, it’s gonna happen. Russell Westbrook's career and legacy is undeniable," Lillard said. "If I tried to go every game and get a triple-double for a whole season, I can't do it."

It's clear that fans and players around the league know what Russ is capable of, and that is why this season feels like such a huge anomaly. With just a few games left in the season, Russ doesn't have much time to change the narrative. Hopefully, however, he can at least help get the Lakers into the postseason.

You can see Sharpe's entire interview with Russ, below.


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About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.