The NBA All-Star starters were announced on Thursday, and while those who were voted in deserve a round of applause, there’s one glaring omission that was on everyone’s mind: Where’s Russell Westbrook? Westbrook is currently averaging a triple-double this season ... and he’s not a starter — shout out to fan voting.
Russell Westbrook: ‘I don’t play for All-Star nods or All-Star bids’
It perplexed a lot of NBA players, including his teammate Enes Kanter:
But on Friday, when Westbrook was asked about the results, he shrugged it off, saying, “It’s the nature of the business.”
“It is what it is. It’s the nature of the business, the game. Just play. I don’t play for All-Star nods or All-Star bids. I play to win championships, and every night I compete at a high level, and you know, it’ll work out. Just continue doing what I’m doing, and you know, play the game the right way, and everything else will work out.”
When asked about what it meant to him that other players voted him the No. 1 point guard in their votes, he said it was a “great honor,” but added he’s not playing to be in the All-Star Game — he wants a championship.
“Media had you first, too,” a reporter chimed.
“Congratulations, bro,” Westbrook responded.
