TAIPEI, Taiwan (Reuters) — Russell Westbrook, point guard for Oklahoma City Thunder and two-time NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2016, encouraged a selection of young basketball players to pursue their dreams on Sunday (September 4) in Taipei, Taiwan.
Westbrook, who is currently on a tour through the region to promote new Air Jordan basketball shoes, encouraged local basketball players in Taipei to focus on their dreams.
“I mean, I think it’s important, even if it’s not basketball, whatever it is that, you know, you guys wanna do, I think that whatever it is you put your mind to, you stay focussed and don’t let anything veer you off and put you off track, in your goal and whatever you wanna do in life,” he said at a press conference.
Attendees of the training event later in the evening cheered when Russell Westbrook entered the basketball court to train young athletes, demonstrating dribbling skills and dunking the ball.
He left a favourable impression with players who praised his approachable nature.
“Playing basketball with him (Westbrook) today, he gave me the feeling that he is an equal, he is not as cocky as some of the other basketball stars. He doesn’t seem cocky. And I think that (I) could learn a lot of things from him,” said 21-year-old Chien Yu-che who attended the training.
Wang Hung-han was especially excited to meet his idol.
“He is my idol, so I am very excited to play basketball together with my idol. He also taught (us) some dribbling skills, which was very special. And my idol giving me a medal will be a very happy memory,” he said.
