Russell Westbrook's Wizards Reunion
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 14 December 2020
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When the NBA season tips off next week, the Washington Wizards will have a very different look -- with new franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. The Athletic’s Fred Katz, who has gotten to know Westbrook well over the years, joins us to talk about how the former MVP landed in D.C., what he brings to the team, and why he's likely to flourish under Wizards head coach Scott Brooks.
More from Fred Katz:
https://theathletic.com/2249306/2020/12/09/russell-westbrook-scott-brooks-reunion/?source=theleadpodcast
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead Add Free on Amazon Music. |
| 0:04.9 | Download the app today. |
| 0:11.4 | When the NBA season tips off next week, the Washington Wizards will have a very different |
| 0:15.2 | look with new franchise point guard Russell Westbrook. |
| 0:26.5 | Today, the Athletics Fred Katz on what Russell Westbrook brings to Washington and the former |
| 0:31.7 | MVP special bond with Wizards Head Coach Scott Brooks. |
| 0:35.7 | Russ has kind of a deep-seated appreciation for Scott's faith in him from an early age, |
| 0:43.2 | believing that, hey, this 20-year-old guard is having crazy turnovers and his legs are |
| 0:51.8 | working faster than his mind right now, but he's staying out there. |
| 0:58.9 | From Wondry on the Athletic, I'm Kavisa Davidson. |
| 1:02.1 | And I'm Andres Keltow. |
| 1:03.3 | It's Monday, December 14th, and this is The Lead. |
| 1:06.9 | It felt like something great was happening. |
| 1:11.1 | There was just something about the emotion and the moment you know the first one. |
| 1:16.1 | Fred, first of all, can you just take us through the winding road of how Russell Westbrook |
| 1:36.2 | ended up with the Washington Wizards? |
| 1:38.4 | So at some point over the offseason, Westbrook made it clear to the rockets that he wanted |
| 1:44.4 | them to find him in a new home. |
| 1:46.7 | Something is up in Houston, sources tell Artim McMahon and Adrian Wurgenewski that both |
| 1:51.8 | Russell Westbrook and James Hardin have expressed uncertainty about the direction of the franchise. |
| 1:57.8 | And when you have a guy who makes that sum of money and you have to match salaries, it |
| 2:02.2 | just becomes very difficult to find a market. |
... |
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