Former NBA guard and current EuroLeague standout Wade Baldwin IV took a playful jab at Russell Westbrook on Friday afternoon following a stat-stuffing performance in Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul’s matchup against Anadolu Efes Istanbul. While Baldwin’s production helped fuel his team, the remark after the game became the story.
Baldwin finished as Fenerbahçe’s second-leading scorer with 10 points while posting eight assists and seven rebounds. His aggressive style also resulted in seven turnovers, a number that drew attention from reporters postgame. When asked about his all-around performance, Baldwin delivered a lighthearted comment at Westbrook’s expense.
“That’s like a Russell Westbrook on the Lakers stat line right there,” he said.
The remark referenced Westbrook’s polarizing tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, during which he was both celebrated for his energy and criticized for turnovers and inefficiency. During his time in Los Angeles, Westbrook averaged 17.4 points, 7.2 assists, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 turnovers per game across parts of two seasons.
Westbrook spent most of this past offseason searching for a landing spot before signing with the Sacramento Kings ahead of the regular season. The 36-year-old former MVP has battled reduced role expectations in recent years, but his accolades — including nine All-Star selections and a league MVP award — secure his legacy among the most productive guards of his generation.
Baldwin, meanwhile, has carved out a successful career overseas since leaving the NBA in 2019. The former first-round pick played just 56 NBA games across three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 3.1 points and 1.4 assists in limited minutes. Since departing the league, he has spent seven productive seasons in Europe with four different organizations, emerging as a reliable two-way contributor.
Although Baldwin’s comment generated laughs, Westbrook’s résumé speaks for itself. The former MVP, known for his relentless motor and historic triple-double run, remains one of the most decorated guards in modern basketball history — and figures to have the last laugh when assessing careers.
More NBA news:
