His routine was definitely affected, think about it. High school, AAU, college, and the first 9 years of his pro career was all the same. Easily a few thousand games in and then all of a sudden, it's changed. Also as he bricks, it gets to him, mental plays a factor as well

I'll never forget russ hanging around at halfcourt before his free throws

Its all mindset and mental. Westbrook is the most unpredictable player I've watched. Deandre Jordan free throws improved from 2018 when he changed his routine at the line.

It's not just %. I remember watching 2014 conf finals and commentator said that there are not many players in nba he'd have over westbrook in clutch time shooting fts. 82-83% is not amazing but it felt like Russ never missed when it really mattered.

Hmm, didn't know about the rule change on free throws. Changes in FT routines can help improve or worsen a player's FT percentage depending on the player. On one hand, the rule change broke the routines of players like Westbrook who were used to wandering outside the 3pt line after taking a free throw. On the other hand, DeAndre Jordan improved his FT% by changing his routine. AFAIK he now talks to his teammates before taking a free throw, like, "who you're guardin'?"

Westbrook's free throw drop is really mind-boggling.

During the first half of his career he had a KILLER jump shot. He would run the court and stop right in front of the defender and score. To me it's an unresolved mystery how it vanished from night to day.

You could also do the curious case of good 3pt shooters who were poor free throw shooters (Like Omri Casspi - you loved the idea about making a video about him, "Bruce Lee" Bowen, Mickaël Piétrus, JR Smith & Jason Richardson).

His shot in general has changed a lot . He used to have one of the best mid range pull up in the game when he used to play with KD up until his MVP season . Idk what’s going on with him

Or Russell Westbrook doesn’t practice his free throws enough

Westbrook is a living example of “insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”.

He probably thought his free throw didn’t need to improve because he was shooting at a high percentage so he stopped working on it completely and as they say if your not getting better then your getting worse

Pls do a "How Good was Bill Laimbeer Actually?" Most people know him for his physicality and dirty tricks but he was a real baller back in the day 💪💯

Also never knew about that rule change! Always thankful for Andy providing us useful NBA info!!

Dang Andy, I didn't even know they implemented that rule. U learn something new every day 😆

Another month has passed and I’m still waiting for the day Andy decides to do a video on “how good was Mike Miller actually” I’m still waiting for that day 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 it’ll happen eventually .

Russ had multiple broken fingers that never healed correctly because he played with it and he hasn't been the same because of it

Russell Westbrook is an athletic power forward in a point guard's body

This is probably one of my favorite videos you’ve done Andy. There are a lot of sport psychology elements behind this, especially as it relates to pre-performance routines (pregame workouts, arriving to arena at certain time), superstitions (eating a PB&J before each game), and in game routines (free-throws). The game becomes around 90% mental in professional sports and I really do think the rule change affected Westbrook because he has not adapted to a new routine that relieves his tension the way his old routine used to. He definitely seems more tense when he’s at the foul line and seems like he is playing to not make mistakes (which leads to mistakes) rather than in a relaxed state. As an aspiring sport psychology consultant, I really would love to see stats behind where exactly he struggles during his free-throw routine (1st attempt, 2nd attempt or both attempts). I do not know if Westbrook has ever worked with a team sport psychologist, but maybe he can work with one to effectively find a routine that works for him! I don’t know if anyone has ever noticed this, but Donovan Mitchell closes his eyes during each free-throw attempt before he shoots. I can’t find any sources to confirm it, but I think he most likely uses some sort of mental imagery and/or relaxation breathing to help him calm his nerves and increase confidence. It’d be beneficial if Westbrook worked with a sport psychology consultant during the offseason to maybe limit negative anxiety perceptions using mindfulness or self-talk or any other useful tool that keeps him in the present moment.

Very good video andy thanks for sharing this

dont care how much he gets criticized, still one of my fav players of all time. 2017 Russ was different

82-84% is actually decent for a season but to average in the 60’s and even low 70’s is not okay as an nba player.

It’s weight, he got swole as fuck and his whole shooting motion changed I really hope he can get back into form

He changed his shooting style to have a quicker release. Before he had that 2 motion release with more height to his jumper

It’s good to see Andy upload every 3 days

Shooting free throws have a mental aspect as well as having good shot mechanics.

I have noticed that westbrook mostly made the first and missed the second in his wizards days

The free throw the thing is weird. Several players who used to be good just all of a sudden don’t make them anymore

The reason they're down is because I decided to have him on my fantasy team this year, I'm sure. :p

Never thought about that rule change for free throws that is very interesting and tidbit for NBA research , good stuff Andy

The broader shoulders. Same thing happening to AD right now. Broader shoulder makes shooting stroke stiff.

Good vid 👍🏻

I hope you or someone does one on Lebron’s free throws as well. His free throw shot making especially in the clutch has been so up and down.

It was most likely the rule change. He was doing that same routine for years and then the league banned it, definitely hard to come back from that.

Coach Nick from BBall Breakdown should do a shooting form analysis on Westbrook's free throws.

Hey Andy, is this a re-upload? I remember seeing this video before...

Hey Andy great video, what happened to Cliff Alexander? He was a high school star and he went to Kansas and played only one season with the trail blazers, what happened exactl?

Westbrook definitely ain’t out of shape Just impossible

It’s actually extremely common for players to eat PB&J before the games, it’s a high carb easy to digest food. A lot of teams do this together.

Fascinating video about a fascinating player! Wonder if his moving teams so often has caused him to deviate from his former routines. Or if it strengthened his resolve…

His release looks way nicer before than it does now.

That's always been my reason as to why his free throws fell off was because of the rule change ever since then he's never quite been the same despite the decline in his athleticism I believe he also feels he doesn't have the support of the fans in his hometown since he's been under so much scrutiny in the media he's been a shell of himself

Alright Andy, I usually agree with ur points on all ur videos, but I disagree with ur point that Westbrook's game hasn't changed and that he's dropped off like he's a scrub. He became a really good playmaker. Earlier in his career we'd criticize him for not passing the ball, but now he's been averaging 8+ assists. He's not like CP3 or Lebron, but he can help set up an offense. This year too with the Lakers, he's been playing more off the ball, with nice cuts and movement. It's not perfect but it's more than what I've seen from him in the past. These last 10 games with the Lakers, he's been playing great, he's been our best player if we're being honest. I agree that his game has changed, but to paint him as a washed up scrub is a big stretch.

Andy can you do a video on how good Demar Derozan and Zach Lavine has been this season?

In 2011-2014 the Wizards had a player, about 7 footer, named Jan Vesely. He was a kind of bad free throw shooter to start with (53% his first year), but he apparently developed a kind of horrible mental block and just got worse and worse. It was embarrassing. He shot 27% in his final year, about what your average 4th grader would shoot. Westbrook clearly has some kind of mental thing going on as well, even beyond the forced change in the second-shot routine.

3:50 bro you absolutely killed me with that one

Finally someone talked about this cuz I never understood how his percentage fell off so much

cool video topic had no clue this is why he struggled. Lowkey thought he just couldn’t hit free throws

I swear either Andy or some other KZfaqr did a video on this before. Regardless, the most drastic change Westbrook has ever had to make in his career is playing on a LeBron Lakers team. And because of that catastrophic change to his meticulous routine, there's no way L.A. can win a championship with him. 💁🏻‍♂️🏀🏆

Great video and analysis. My guess is it is basically "the yips" - a player develops a mental fixation about something then overthinks it so much he can't do it anymore. The rule change threw his routine off slightly but now it's just a mental thing. Has happened to a good number of prominent golfers and baseball pitchers over the years. Wilt Chamberlain became a worse free throw shooter over the years. At one point they hired a psychologist to work with him, and after a few months he became even worse. Chamberlain said the main result of that was that the pyschologist became a better free throw shooter than him.

Make one for AD, from being the Lakers best free throw shooter, to being one of the worst. It pisses me off.

I been telling people this for months now and they don’t believe me. The problem is his shot selection. He used to be a pretty good shooter

Hey Andy!.. video idea: have a look at KTO latest video he's doing what happened to the 2012 WR Draft Class...I reckon ud get a lot of view's for vids like a... What happened to the Point Guard or Power fwd class of 2012 etc.. international class of 2914 etc... Michigan fab 5 team Rose, Webber, Howard Jimmy King n Ray Jackson... anyway love Ur work! Also don't forget to consider Rise n Downfall triple J's Dallas Mavericks team with Jimmy Jackson Jamal Mashburn Jason Kidd, Run TMC Warriors...anyway Ur ideas are great I watch Cosgrove and you the most as the 2 🐐🐐

I remember hearing a story some years ago about how KD and Westbrook would have ft shooting compilations at practice

He looked much relaxed previously

He actually declined in most of his game which is kinda expected from aging pg that relies on physicals, we've seen it too many times. But anyone who played bball can't deny the importance of routine. It's just part of the shot.

I recently seen a picture of his hands as he’s releasing the ball and his hands looked all jacked up. I’m guessing an injury or arthritis caused the look of his hands

This one's easy... It's in his head, once you win MVP you HAVE to win a ring... Imagine having to pick between $100M or your entire legacy

Hmm...seems like a mental thing. I feel like Westbrook's shooting on the whole kinda plummeted though...at least from the mid range. I remember back in the day he'd hit those pull up mid range jumpers.

russ should just walk past the 3 point line and dare the refs to call a technical foul or whatever they're supposed to call. there's no way the refs even remember that this is a rule, they'll probably let it slide. with all the rule changes the NBA made for reducing the amount of time the fans have to spend watching the referees rather than the actual basketball game, i doubt the refs would do anything if russ just spent a few extra seconds walking past the 3 point line. my last point for why this is a dumb rule is because russ has a quick free throw routine. how is it ok for giannis to spend 12 seconds standing on the free throw line before he shoots it, but it's not ok for russ to spend 3-5 seconds walking, and only another 3 seconds to shoot the free throw? i am somewhat OCD, and let me tell you, being forced to change your routines can really mess you up if you live with this ailment. I fully believe the free throw rule threw russ off because he probably has some OCD tendencies as well

The routine, much more muscle compared to like 2015, his mechanics changed overall on fts and his jumpshot and prolly the 4 knee surgeries all play a part

Please do "NBA players who are great 3-point shooters but are bad free throw shooters". Thanks!

his confidence are damaged beyond repair maybe I think because, he still could come back if he would just accept change and adapt he seems very uncomfortable and tense in everything he does his body language is always so tense he feels awkward I honestly believe he suffers from anxiety which is tough to deal with but he could still over come that it’s a mental thing he just needs to literally not have emotional feelings about pressure or when all eyes are on him because sometimes more often most of the time he gets very uncomfortable and tense and awkward when that happens, so I believe he should just relax and realize that won’t help but rather only make the outcome worse making you have more anxiety later or right after, russ just has “OCD and anxiety but time like x20” if he could just get ahold of those two problems he’ll be perfect

He's probably done this but I would measure how many steps it takes to go through his walkabout before every free throw. And literally walk those steps inside the 3 point line

I still remember 2012 Finals vs miami. Russ cant miss a freethrow. he's automatic when he's on the line. Specially that mid range pull up

Need that space to relax and walk around for the free throw

I may have to rewatch this video, but I think his shooting mechanics may have changed a bit… of course I could be wrong.

I blame it on how big he got if you look at him in 2016 and now he’s noticeably bigger now which makes it harder for him to make shots

imagine him playing center position man mad transition the past decade. hed be long gone by now

I think initially it the reason was the rule change but over time it became psychological and the confidence just isnt there anymore

Suggestion: do an career about dirk

God can u image the mess okc would have had if they signed all 3 to long term deals

For me that's just show how important it is to follow a free throw routine

I'm one of the biggest fan of Westbrook and agree in this video, yes his body is not condition unlike his okc days with kd was there, and i think because of media criticize him in so many ways. I hope to see the old Russell with great pull up jumpers and athleticism to win title 🏆

🤔 you could have done a video on his whole game at the same time this is something that has made me wonder

Living up to his "Westbrick" name

Love this intro music makes you think lol

The only person this new rule hasnt affected is Kevin Love. He use to walk all the way across the half court line after making a free throw!

I honestly think it's the way he holds the ball, because when you ricochet the ball off the front of the rim and the side that's the positioning of the ball in your hand.

Russell westbrook would have had such a better career (winning wise) if he had just been able to learn how to adjust to things. For example he's never switched up his style of play even when it called for it..like with kd or harden or even now with lebron and A.D...then you have the quote about his routine and can't handle new.. so this is just more proof of him not being able to adjust.

You should do a video on when NBA Coaches got traded like Doc Rivers.

So do people really think an old Lebron and Russ with a injury prone AD could win it all?

Do you guys not realize that his mvp season his shooting form was more smooth? And nowadays his jumpshot has a hitch in it as well, I’ve been noticing this.

Why is the 2014 season free throw routine video from a fan camera tho

This sounds about right. Russ stuck in his own ways. You can call it him being true to himself or him unwilling and/or unable to adapt his game.

Free Throws is all about energy

can you please do a study on why ayton who shot 75% last three years now 60%, he killing my fantasy team is the contract in his head?

At the end u were kinda talking nonsense when saying he can't even dribble by most of the defenders and saying he lost all of his speed

Easiest physical shot, hardest mental shot.

And the Lakers let Caruso go for THIS????

It's his gradual muscle build. Look at his shoulder growth/mass. That muscle can do some damage

Not sure if you would be able to find this - but can we check how many and one Russ was able to get and what percentage he made on those. Once we can establish a theoretical baseline for his first FT, then we can calculate the second.

How is such a large drop-off possible?! 2017 Westbrook: 84.5% on 10.4 FTA 2019 Westbrook: 65.6% on 6.2 FTA

I think he's just gotten older so when he goes to the line, he's a lot more tired.

3:50 you had me ngl

I feel like he picked up muscle and started shooting worst, love how he plays for the lakers tho just cut down on those turnovers lol

Nobody else is having the same problem because nobody else lives in the dude’s head. This is obviously a mental thing. It’s like when Chuck Knoblauch forgot how to throw the ball to first base. It’s a version of the yips. You said you “think” it’s psychological. I don’t even understand how it could be anything else? What is the other option?

Advising Westbrook to see a sports psychologist Westbrook: WHAT? Whatcu talking about?! 🤨

If he went to the 3pt line near sideline is it okay then?

interesting take