Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll had actor/comedian Bill Murray as the guest on their "Flying Coach" podcast this week.
Super quick tangent -- if you read that sentence three months ago, you would have thought you were living in an alternate universe, right? OK. End of tangent.
So about midway through the conversation, the following exchange took place:
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Kerr: "Russell Westbrook has one of my favorite quotes ever. He said: 'I have been blessed with the gift of not giving a f--k.'"
Murray: "That's not his line. I don't think he made that one up."
Kerr: "(Laughing) Maybe he didn't, but he used it. There's something about that that's true. It doesn't work if you literally don't care. But if you can play as if you're just free and loose -- and you're having fun -- that's what we're all looking for."
When did the 2016-17 NBA MVP say this?
It was Feb. 13, 2019 when Westbrook still was playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I've been blessed with the talent not to give a f--k," he told reporters just before the All-Star break.
So somebody needs to tell Kerr to substitute the word "talent" for "gift" when he's citing the quote. But that's really not important.
[RUNNIN' PLAYS PODCAST: Listen to the latest episode]
What is more interesting in this context is actually analyzing Westbrook's comment when applying it to the court. He is an incredibly gifted player and a lot of the basketball world praises him for the energy and effort he brings on a nightly basis. Nobody questions his passion.
But within that, he built somewhat of a reputation for not adjusting his game -- or sacrificing certain things -- in order to provide what is needed for his team to win when it matters most.
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And the perception -- fair or not -- is that he doesn't "give a f--k" about adapting or evolving, and he's going to do what he wants.
Westbrook still has time to change the narrative. And hopefully the current NBA season resumes this summer so he gets that opportunity.
