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NBA legend Russell Westbrook couldn’t dunk a basketball until his senior 12 months of highschool. Now, at 652 (and counting), he holds the record for the most dunks by any point guard since the NBA began tracking game-by-game data in 1996. To outsiders, this achievement seems unlikely. For Westbrook, it’s a testament to the easy mantra he lives by: Why not?
“Why not?” is greater than just a catchy slogan for MVP 2017. What began as a joke between middle school friends became a source of inspiration. “It builds confidence,” Westbrook explains. “It’s bragging rights and believing you can do anything you put your mind to.”
The Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) chosen Westbrook fourth overall in 2008, and the rest is history. However, despite his NBA accolades and enormous wealth, Westbrook has not forgotten his roots. He still addresses his “Why not?” he embraced business and philanthropy, even naming his foundation after it.
Rising above adversity
Before he became a nine-time All-Star, Westbrook was just one other kid from South Central Los Angeles, a neighborhood renowned for its cultural vibrancy but often overshadowed by issues like gang violence and poverty. “Honestly, a lot of people don’t have the opportunities I had,” he reflects. “Not everyone has this path to success.”
Unlike some athletes who initially display extraordinary size and strength, Westbrook entered highschool at just 5-foot-7, yet his relentless work ethic earned him a starting spot in his junior 12 months.
Westbrook caught a break when he had a growth spurt before his senior 12 months, reaching 6-foot-10 and attracting the attention of college basketball’s “blue bloods.” He fulfilled his highschool dream by enrolling at UCLA. Westbrook played there for two seasons, earning Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, before moving on to the NBA, where he currently plays for the Denver Nuggets.
As Westbrook’s basketball profession progressed, his commitment to the community grew. He founded Why Not Foundation in 2012which he recently revealed state-of-the-art campus for Westbrook Academy in South Los Angeles, which has over 400 students. The Academy focuses on education, workforce development and wellness initiatives to revitalize underserved communities. “Why not?” the mantra is not only for me,” Westbrook says. “It’s also for everyone around me.”
Off Court Alley Oops
His upbringing gave Westbrook a deep understanding of the resources required to enhance his community. “We try to connect with everyone, regardless of age or interests,” Westbrook says. He has already put money into this cause, offering a wide selection of programs for underprivileged youth, from cooking in partnership with Little Kitchen for coding in conjunction with Code.chella. “I’m a person who has a hand in almost everything,” Westbrook says. “That’s why it’s hard for me to tell others that they should only focus on education. I believe that different people can be helped in different ways.”
Westbrook sees the partnership with Little Kitchen as a great example. “This gives inner-city kids the resources and opportunities to learn the minutiae of cooking that they can use in their everyday lives,” Westbrook says. “Growing up in the inner city, there are experiences you may never get the chance to have. Giving people the resources to try new things and believe they can achieve them helps a lot.”
Known around the league as an outstanding teammate and leader, Westbrook’s presence off the court is just as strong. The lively NBA player, entrepreneur, dressmaker, philanthropist and business owner still finds time to go to students at any time when possible. It’s a little tougher now that he isn’t playing in Los Angeles, but Westbrook appreciates the value of little things like just showing up. “Money is great,” he says, “but time is more important. If you grew up in an underserved community, being present is more important to you than just writing a check.” It goes a step further by emphasizing the difference between being present and just being. “It’s incredibly important that people can see you and be able to touch you and talk to you,” Westbrook says. In that spirit, Westbrook recently partnered with the Epworth Foundation for this 12 months’s Denver Feed-A-Family event to honor the late Denver philanthropist “Daddy” by Bruce Randolph made a $20,000 donation and distributed 7,500 Thanksgiving meal baskets to those in need.
Although he may not all the time be present in person, Westbrook’s influence is felt deeply at the school that bears his name. In addition to serving on the board and providing academic resources, he added his personal touch to the Westbrook Academy campus, including a mural of South Los Angeles icon and rapper Nipsey Hussle, his late friend and one of his favorite artists. “What Nip did and what he meant to Los Angeles inspired me,” Westbrook says. “He showed us all how important it is to give back and help grow the community.” In 2019, after the publication of a 20-20-20 triple-double Westbrook dedicated his amazing achievement to Nipsey.
Shaping heritage
Westbrook is not only a philanthropist; he is also a talented entrepreneur. In 2016, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of starting his own clothing brand, Respect the Gift. Like many of his philanthropic endeavors, Honor the Gift is steeped in the culture of downtown Los Angeles. “Each collection tells a story and carries a message rooted in the city center,” says Westbrook. “This is the basis of my creativity. I want people to feel a real connection when they look at Honor the Gift and remind themselves, ‘This brand resonates with me.'”
Westbrook realizes he has a unique opportunity to support his community with a multi-million dollar bank account and a platform with followers to match. Still, he believes that everyone can find a way to help the less fortunate. “The most important thing is to do something that feels natural and meaningful, not forced,” Westbrook says. “Find a goal you really care about, something you love, something that helps others, and pursue it with all your heart.” Triple-double King has nearly 10,000 assists in his NBA profession, but none of them mean as much to him as the ones he dishes out off the court.