On Thursday, the basketball world witnessed yet another example of how elite athletes are taking control of their own narratives and bypassing traditional media gatekeepers.
Back on May 27, Russell Westbrook used his personal newsletter, "Word of Westbrook," to deliver an important health update directly to his subscribers, before major outlets like ESPN reported on the story.
This move did not go unnoticed: Mark Shannon, a well-known sports commentator, highlighted the moment on Thursday, noting that Westbrook "broke the recent news of his injury surgery directly via his newsletter to his subscribers before anyone else including ESPN"
In response, Westbrook himself posted a simple “ð” on X, linking back to his blog.
Westbrook officially launched "Word of Westbrook" on March 11, his personal newsletter hosted on the Beehiiv platform.
In his inaugural post, he wrote, “WORD OF WESTBROOK. Proud to officially announce my first and only newsletter to the world. Join me. Subscribe: word-of-westbrook.beehiiv.com/subscribe #WhyNot.”
The newsletter was positioned as a direct line between Westbrook and his fans, offering unfiltered insights into his life, covering fashion, lifestyle, wellness and behind-the-scenes perspectives that traditional media do not typically provide.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4).
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4).
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Over his career, Westbrook has been a nine-time NBA All-Star, a nine-time All-NBA recipient, a two-time All-Star Game MVP, a two-time scoring champion, a three-time assists leader and was the 2017 regular season MVP.
He also boasts the NBA record for most career triple-doubles (203) and is the only player to average a triple-double in four separate seasons.
After eleven seasons with Oklahoma City, Westbrook had stints with Houston, Washington, Los Angeles (Lakers and Clippers) and, most recently, the Denver Nuggets, whom he joined in July 2024 on a one-year deal with a player option for 2025-26.