Russell Westbrook Sounds Beaten by the 'Shaming' From Fans and Media

The San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 117-110, on Monday night. Russell Westbrook scored 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting and missed six free throws. After the game he addressed the way that he's been feelling lately as fans have made their disappointment with himself and the Lakers well known.

"It's really the shaming of my name. The shaming of my character. The shaming of who I am as a person is to me, it's not warranted. I haven't done anything to anybody. I haven't hurt anyone. I haven't done anything but play basketball a way that people do not like. This is just a game. This is just a game. This is not my entire life."

Westrook went on to say that it has affected his family with his wife and grandmother not even wanting to attend home games. And he doesn't want to bring his children to games.

It's an excellent reminder that the players on the court are actual human beings with feelings and families. On the other hand...

Russell Westbrook is making $44,211,146 this season. That's more than LeBron James and it's the fourth biggest salary figure this season in the entire NBA. Only Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen made more playing football this past season. It's seven million dollars more than Mike Trout, the highest paid baseball player made last season.

It's hard to imagine there is anyone compensated more fairly to put up with what every other professional athlete goes through. Especially, to play a game that Westbrook loves. Westrbook and the Lakers have played badly this season and they should expect this type of reaction from fans.

As he said, this is not his entire life. He has a nice family and lots of interests outside basketball, a sport which he has made a third of a billion dollars to play. If there's anyone who can walk away, well, it's him. If he just wants to play the game he loves his former college, UCLA, has a legendary pickup scene.