Former NBA player Patrick Beverley makes a strong statement about Russell Westbrook

Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook once had the most heated rivalry in the NBA. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the two players almost despised each other at one point in their careers. After the two played as teammates on the Lakers for a short time, their mood finally changed.

Beverley has grown to respect Westbrook so much that he actually considers him to be the toughest player he has ever coached. That’s a big statement from Beverley, considering he was once an NBA All-Defensive First Team player capable of guarding the league’s best. During a Twitch broadcast, Beverley revealed his thoughts on Westbrook.

“Russ was tough,” Beverley said. “He was difficult to guard because he is a very intelligent basketball player. He doesn’t get much credit for that. So Russ knows what weaknesses the other defender has. If you’re too small, he’ll do it.” Post yourself. If you’re too big, he’ll use his speed.

While disrespect for Westbrook is rampant online, he was once a player who averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for three years, and that is a near-impossible feat.

Regardless of what fans may think about Russell Westbrook now, very few players in NBA history know how difficult it was to guard him like Beverley did.

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