UCLA men's basketball alumnus Russell Westbrook left his mark in the National Basketball Association, including during his last year when he played for the Sacramento Kings.
During that time, he mentored a young rookie center out of Stanford, Maxime Raynaud, who recently spoke about what Westbrook meant to him last season.
“That’s big bro right there. Legend of the game," Raynaud said Thursday. "Someone that really gave me the confidence to get started in my NBA journey, and I think also helped me show the league that I belong and I could play out here.
“Just an amazing mentor and role model.”
Throughout his illustrious 18-year campaign in the NBA, Westbrook played for seven teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers & Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Kings.
"The Brodie" is without a doubt a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
"He's going to play 100,000% every single night" — Nic Batum talks Russell Westbrook + gives him credit for Maxime Raynaud's development with the Kings this season pic.twitter.com/KKNBdg4xdu
— TheOldManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) March 30, 2026
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This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA alumnus Westbrook referred to as 'amazing mentor and role model'
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ucla-alumnus-westbrook-referred-amazing-142517940.html