Russell Westbrook’s One-of-One Career With Kirk Goldsberry, Plus College Football and Coaches With Van Lathan and Chris Ryan
Summary
Bill Simmons and Kirk Goldberg analyze Russell Westbrook’s retirement using the "Book of Basketball" format, debating his polarizing legacy and 2017 MVP season. They discuss his unique athleticism, high usage rate, and why he was difficult to build a championship team around despite his relentless energy. The episode also covers upcoming NFL preview plans and reflects on the "sliding doors" moment of the 2016 Western Conference Finals.
Topics discussed
Boar's Head sponsorship and intro
NFL preview and Sunday Ticket promo
Russell Westbrook's polarizing nature and 2012 Zombisonics
The 90/10 theory and Westbrook's flaws
Westbrook's athleticism and era context
Westbrook's MVP season and playoff history
Heliocentric basketball and analytics shift
Sliding doors: What if OKC won in 2012?
Westbrook's worst moments and Lakers fit
Westbrook's legacy, style, and UCLA days
Ranking Westbrook among all-time greats
NBA ownership trends and financial instruments
College football storylines and NIL impact
Chip Kelly's coaching decline and NFL trends
Evaluating NFL and NBA head coaches
Coaching challenges with star-dependent teams
76ers outlook and Tatum-Brown relationship
Listen ad-free on Castria