Russell Westbrook On Staying With OKC, Kevin Durant’s Departure + Why He Refuses To Use A Stylist

Russell Westbrook On Staying With OKC, Kevin Durant’s Departure

In a new interview, NBA baller Russell Westbrook dishes on the game, his love for fashion and the departure of former teammate Kevin Durant. Check out some excerpts from the interview below.

On the meaning behind his mantra “Why Not”: 

My friends and I started that motto early in high school. That attitude, that mentality, from way back then: Want to go to Stanford? Why not? Want to play in the NBA? Why not? I was never the best player. Not ever in my life. Though even when I was younger, I felt that on any given day I could be. And that mentality’s what’s helped me get over the hump each and every day to where I was meant to go.

On Kevin Durant leaving the team:

I mean, obviously in the NBA there’s a lot of different decisions that people make. The whole thing in the NBA is that people sometimes have an opportunity to go where they want. And Kevin chose a place where he wanted to go.

On if he has spoken to him since he left the team:

Uhh, not much, no.

On deciding to stay with the Thunder:

But it wasn’t like that at all for me. There was no process. It was just very simple. I wasn’t trying to figure out if I was leaving or not. I was happy where—I am happy where—I’m at. It’s very simple.

On how the sudden death of his best friend when he was younger inspired him to keep playing ball:

Obviously, it’s something that’s always going to be a part of my life. What I do and where I do it. Always playing for him and his spirit.

On why he wont hire a stylist: 

And that’s why a stylist, for me, is just a waste of money. It would take away from my creative side. And the most important thing about fashion is being creative and being able to have your own ideas. Sometimes you can tell who stylists are working with, because a lot of guys will start dressing the same. But I don’t pay much mind either way.

On sitting front row in New York, Milan and Paris runway shows:

I like making sure I’m there, because a lot of that stuff on the runways never makes it to the stores. And I’m able to see, like, different colors, how they go together, different color palettes, different fabrics, how they go with each other, how they link, how they flow, how they look on people.

On how traveling inspires his collection:

I get ideas from everything. Just from everyday walking around. Looking at people. Just from everything. I see colors, women, men—traveling, I get ideas from all over the place, just because I think that’s the best way to do it. Like the carpets in hotels. How it works with the walls. The artwork. I had a great idea when I was in China this summer, this thing going on on the street, and I was just like, Man, I’m going to design something exactly like that. I can’t tell you at the moment. But for my next collection, when I do it, it’s gonna be just like that. To me, it’s just exciting, ’cause I’m able to see different things and come back.… I can’t draw, but someone who can draw, I’m able to explain to someone exactly what I want to do.

On self improvement and not getting the MVP award: 

The thing about me you have to know is, I don’t care what other people are doing. I. Don’t. Care. I’m so busy worried about how I can improve, I just don’t have time to worry about what any other person is doing.

On being true to himself:

My mindset stays the same. The best thing I can do is stay true to myself. If I do what I know how to do, everything else will follow.

By: @Kekesinglelady