NBA Star Calls Out Russell Westbrook as "Stats Chaser"

 


Following his 4-for-20 shooting performance in the Los Angeles Lakers' Christmas Day loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Russell Westbrook has been taking some heat on social media. Now he's getting called out by the Minnesota Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns: "He chases stats."

While having a discussion with streamer Adin Ross about the importance of getting a win vs. putting up stats, KAT was asked what he thought of Russ. He thought for a second, then came up smiling, with “He definitely gets his stats. He chases stats."

That's the headline. But Towns also threw some love Russ's way as well: "I think he’s a hell of a player though. Do you know how hard it is to get a triple-double? And he plays hella' hard... I just think that sometimes he plays too quick. He tries to do too much.”

As for Westbrook—the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles—be it from Towns, the fans or the media, he's tired of hearing what others think about his game:

"I'm over the whole situation of what everybody else wants me to be doing and what they think I should do," Russ said, while adding that he's going to continue to 'compete his ass off' when he's on the floor. “People always say ‘let Russ be Russ,’ but nobody really knows what that means besides me."

As for Towns, Laker (and other) fans have had no trouble reminding him that he himself has been accused in the past of piling up stats while his Timberwolves have failed to make the playoffs in 5 of his 6 years in the league heading into this one. In fact, Westbrook once said of KAT, "Get to the f--king playoffs before you speak to me!"

This is a beef that will likely continue to keep on giving.

Photo Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports