Westbrook Wants to Carry the Torch at the Los Angeles Olympics
Former NBA star Russell Westbrook has said he would like to take part in the Olympic torch relay for the Los Angeles Games. LA is his hometown, and on Friday he received a city award for community work.
American basketball player Russell Westbrook, who spent many years in the United States' National Basketball Association (NBA), says he wants to take part in the torch relay for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. The 37-year-old spoke on Friday, when he received a City of Los Angeles award for public service.
Los Angeles is Westbrook's hometown. He attended high school and university there, and during his NBA career he played for both of the city's teams, the Lakers and the Clippers.
What Westbrook said
In his view, anyone who wants to join a torch relay must be able to prove themselves in many areas. Westbrook said he works to help people through technology, energy, education, healthcare, mental health and well-being, and wants to help as much as he can.
He stressed his close bond with the city: everything he does, from basketball to business, revolves around Los Angeles. According to him, this applies to how he plays, lives, talks and walks. Westbrook said he will never change that, and hopes to be remembered for how much he managed to help the people of Los Angeles.
Career achievements
Westbrook is a 2012 London Olympic Games gold medallist. He finished his 18-season NBA career as the all-time leader in triple-doubles, games in which a player reaches double figures in three statistical categories. In 2017 he was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP), and he appeared in the All-Star Game nine times.
