Russell Westbrook made a reporter repeat a question without using ‘big words’

Russell Westbrook, noted interview star, was back at it on Wednesday after a reporter, Fred Katz, asked him a question that had too many big words for Westbrook’s liking. Here’s how the conversation went:

“How does your improvisation ... how do you allow that to take over?”

“Say what now, my man? You trying to use all these big words, just ask your question, bro, ask you question.”

Katz reworded the question, Westbrook gave his approval and sports journalism lived another day. As someone who has stumbled over questions while asking them to players and coaches, I feel for Katz. Wording a question just right is important, so you repeat it to yourself so many times in your head that it comes out of your mouth all in a weird jumble.

On the other hand, we’re always asking for players to show personality beyond cliched responses to “did you guys play with enough effort,” so stuff like this is a nice reminder that they’re not robots. All in all, nobody should feel bad and also Westbrook is still the greatest.