The circumstances in 2020 that led to All-Star guard Russell Westbrook seeking a trade away from the Rockets reportedly included what he viewed as less-than-desirable treatment by Houston’s coaching staff. This latest anecdote comes via ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, who was once teammates with Westbrook in Oklahoma City.
In a Monday appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump,” Perkins said:
From a source of mine that happened to be on the (Houston) coaching staff, they said that Russell Westbrook felt like he wasn’t being treated like the star that he should have been treated like. So, he wanted out.
Perkins didn’t identify former head coach Mike D’Antoni by name, but the context of the segment was Perkins’ desire to see a coaching change in Dallas after the Mavericks’ recent loss in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs. “This is the same problem that happened in Houston last year,” said Perkins, who had just finished making the case for a change.
What the Dallas Mavericks are missing is a new Head Coach! Carry the hell on… pic.twitter.com/v9ZWeJW90S
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 7, 2021
Broadly speaking, Perkins’ story meshes with what Kelly Iko, Shams Charania and Sam Amick reported in November.
“Westbrook has informed team officials that he has been uneasy about the team’s accountability and culture, and wants to join a team where he can have a role similar to his prior, floor-general role in Oklahoma City,” The Athletic reported on Nov. 11.
"Russell Westbrook has informed team officials that he has been uneasy about the team's accountability and culture, and has a desire to return to his prior, floor-general role in Oklahoma City."
(Via The Athletic ) pic.twitter.com/qzD1ytqsQ7
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 12, 2020
Though D’Antoni was replaced by Stephen Silas after the 2019-20 season, it did not appear the change sparked any real desire by Westbrook or the Rockets to try and rekindle the relationship. Less than a month later, Westbrook was traded to Washington in the deal that brought John Wall and a future first-round draft pick — effectively jump-starting Houston’s rebuilding plan, which is clearly targeting draft assets.
Westbrook averaged 22.2 points, 11.7 assists and 11.5 rebounds per game this season with the Wizards, who were eliminated in the first round of the 2021 playoffs by Philadelphia.
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