Joe Collamore 10th grade
Norton High School
2015 Will McDonough writing
contest
Russell Westbrook: My favorite athlete
My favorite athlete is Russell Westbrook. Russell is point
guard on the Oklahoma City Thunder and is one of the elite guards in the NBA. Russell is not my favorite athlete because he is a great basketball player,
there are plenty of great athletes on Boston sports team whom I also love, like
Tom Brady, however I picked Russell as my favorite because basketball is my
favorite sport, and I love the way Russell plays basketball. He is a constant
threat on the basketball court, never breaking his focus, which is why he is
such a relentless defender, and such a great leader on the basketball
court. The way Russell plays is a
product of how hard he had to work in order to make it to the NBA, because
Russell was not always seen as one of the world’s elite basketball players.
Russell was born on November 12, 1988 in Long Beach, California.
Russell grew up in Hawthorne, California, and he also grew up playing basketball, playing his first game in elementary school. Russell was a talented basketball player throughout middle school, as was his close friend Khelcey Barrs. Russell and his friend Barrs both attended Leuzinger High school in Lawndale, California, where Barrs became a standout player. Barrs was already receiving college recruiting letters as a sophomore, but died suddenly from cardiomegaly after a series of late night basketball games. The loss of his friend devastated Russell, but he used it to fuel him to become a better basketball player. Westbrook did not start on his varsity team until he was a junior, but quickly became the best player on the Leuzinger high school team, showing off his incredible athleticism and explosive scoring ability. After his senior year, when he averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.1 assists, Westbrook was offered a scholarship to play for UCLA, and he decided to attend.
Russell did not see very much playing time as a freshman, only being put in if someone was in foul trouble, or if some tenacious defense was needed. As a sophomore Russell became one of the key players in the UCLA starting five, bringing energy and leadership whenever it was needed. Russell helped carry UCLA all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the University of Memphis. Westbrook received widespread recognition for his superb season, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals, and also winning the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. After his storied season at UCLA, Russell decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft, and was selected 4th overall by the Seattle Supersonics.
Westbrook had an impressive rookie season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals and also was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Since his rookie season, Russell has been a 4 time All-Star and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, and is considered by many, including me, to be the best guard in the NBA. Russell does have some flaws, just as every athlete does, his biggest being his preference to shoot rather than pass. Some people consider Russell to be a selfish player, but I wouldn’t go that far. Russell plays as hard as he can for his team, and has carried the Thunder this season while Kevin Durant deals with injuries. To me, what makes Russell such a special player is how hard he works to win, never backing down and bringing constant energy, and Westbrook embodies, what I believe, the NBA should stand for.
Russell grew up in Hawthorne, California, and he also grew up playing basketball, playing his first game in elementary school. Russell was a talented basketball player throughout middle school, as was his close friend Khelcey Barrs. Russell and his friend Barrs both attended Leuzinger High school in Lawndale, California, where Barrs became a standout player. Barrs was already receiving college recruiting letters as a sophomore, but died suddenly from cardiomegaly after a series of late night basketball games. The loss of his friend devastated Russell, but he used it to fuel him to become a better basketball player. Westbrook did not start on his varsity team until he was a junior, but quickly became the best player on the Leuzinger high school team, showing off his incredible athleticism and explosive scoring ability. After his senior year, when he averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 2.1 assists, Westbrook was offered a scholarship to play for UCLA, and he decided to attend.
Russell did not see very much playing time as a freshman, only being put in if someone was in foul trouble, or if some tenacious defense was needed. As a sophomore Russell became one of the key players in the UCLA starting five, bringing energy and leadership whenever it was needed. Russell helped carry UCLA all the way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, but fell to the University of Memphis. Westbrook received widespread recognition for his superb season, averaging 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals, and also winning the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. After his storied season at UCLA, Russell decided to enter the 2008 NBA draft, and was selected 4th overall by the Seattle Supersonics.
Westbrook had an impressive rookie season, averaging 15.3 points, 5.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals and also was named to the All-Rookie First Team. Since his rookie season, Russell has been a 4 time All-Star and made it to the NBA Finals in 2012, and is considered by many, including me, to be the best guard in the NBA. Russell does have some flaws, just as every athlete does, his biggest being his preference to shoot rather than pass. Some people consider Russell to be a selfish player, but I wouldn’t go that far. Russell plays as hard as he can for his team, and has carried the Thunder this season while Kevin Durant deals with injuries. To me, what makes Russell such a special player is how hard he works to win, never backing down and bringing constant energy, and Westbrook embodies, what I believe, the NBA should stand for.
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