Thunder guard Russell Westbrook beat out James Harden and Kawhi Leonard for NBA MVP on Monday, but maybe Taylor Swift is the real MVP. In a video tweeted out by the Thunder, Swift took credit for Westbrook’s rise to stardom in a joking deadpan. But to be fair, she also credited Russ for helping her write 2014 hit “Shake It Off.”
.@taylorswift13 sings Russell’s praises! #0urMVP pic.twitter.com/5HgKeVrMsi
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) June 27, 2017
“Hey Russell, it’s Taylor. Remember? I was the one who taught you how to play basketball. I was the one who taught you to dribble, to shoot hoops, you know? And I remember the first time you beat me at basketball, and I was very upset. And you said, if you remember correctly, you just have to shake it off. And I got an idea. So essentially we have each other to thank for these careers.
[…]
“Actually we’ve never met, and that’s a fake story. [Editor’s note: Way to ruin the illusion, Taylor. You really had us going for a sec.] But I wish it were the truth.”
Let’s just say Twitter didn’t take kindly to this video.
it's 👏🏼 just 👏🏼 like 👏🏼 tswift 👏🏼 to 👏🏼 be 👏🏼 silent 👏🏼 on 👏🏼 something 👏🏼 until 👏🏼 it's 👏🏼 safe 👏🏼 to👏🏼 act 👏🏼 like 👏🏼 she 👏🏼 invented👏🏼 it
— Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) June 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/jtylerconway/status/879543460310773760
— Molly (@FSUmollz) June 27, 2017
Now let’s go to Westbrook’s MVP acceptance speech, aaaaand … hmmm, no mention of T-Swift. Even though he’s a well-known fan.
A BIG thank you from the 2016-17 KIA NBA Most Valuable Player, @russwest44. #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/KggYigHChu
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Winning an MVP was probably something Westbrook envisioned only in his Wildest Dreams. And it’s amazing he accomplished that this season despite stories of his Bad Blood with Kevin Durant hanging over the Thunder.
