NBA fans are lauding Russell Westbrook for reportedly leaving a huge tip for the housekeepers in the Orlando bubble during the 2020 playoffs.
The story of the ex-Los Angeles Lakers star’s “commendable” gesture came out after he was labeled a “vampire” following his tumultuous LA exit.
Westbrook found himself under heavy scrutiny the moment he joined the Lakers in 2021.
He quickly proved himself a questionable fit next to NBA superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
But the criticism of his play often turned into toxic abuse off the court, which affected his wife, Nina, and their children.
The bullying started again when the Lakers traded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday.
After the move, a report came out describing the guard’s departure as removing “a vampire from the locker room,” sparking more hostility toward the future Hall-of-Famer.
As Westbrook’s fans came to the 2017 MVP’s defense, NBA on TNT broadcaster Taylor Rooks shared a heartwarming story from the 2020 NBA Playoffs that questioned the former UCLA standout’s character issues.
“In the NBA Bubble, Russ reportedly left around a 10k tip for the housekeepers at the hotel,” she tweeted.
“When I asked him about it he said he left a big one but wouldn’t confirm the amount. ‘The money doesn’t matter. I just like to do the right thing’
“A genuinely good human.”
Spotrac’s Keith Smith responded to Rooks, saying he had heard of Westbrook leaving over $50,000 as a tip for the hotel housekeepers.
“[Disney people] also said that was on top of daily/weekly tips he left and him being incredibly friendly and easy to work with for all the Disney folks,” Smith added.
NBA fans also chimed in, lauding Westbrook’s gesture and slamming the “vampire” taunts.
One tweeted: “Thank you for shining a light on Russ and proving he is not the vampire people think he is.”
Another wrote: “Very commendable! He did exact same thing when he left Washington Wizards.”
A third added: “Yeah he’s a great dude, no denying that at all.”
And one said: “Like I’ve always said.. the Russ hate is one of the corniest things I come across on Twitter each day.”
Westbrook played for the Houston Rockets when the NBA moved to Walt Disney World in Orlando to resume the 2019-20 season amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
The guard spent the following season with the Washington Wizards before they traded him to the Lakers for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and a first-round draft pick.
In 130 games for LA, he averaged 17,4 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds, shooting 43.4% from the field and 29.7% for 3.
He landed on the Jazz in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Timberwolves and sent D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley to the Lakers.
