Russell Westbrook is known for his explosive athleticism and relentless energy on the court, but he also has a knack for making some bizarre plays that defy logic and physics. One of those plays happened yesterday, when the Los Angeles Clippers faced the Chicago Bulls at the Staples Center.
In the fourth quarter, Westbrook was driving towards the basket with Coby White guarding him. He lost control of the ball, which flew high up in the air. To everyone’s surprise, the ball then fell perfectly through the rim, as if it was guided by a magnet. Andre Drummond was so stunned he stop moving for second to digest what he just witnessed. The shot didn’t count, but it was still amazing to see.
As you’ll see below the play was reminiscent of a glitch that sometimes occurs in the popular video game NBA 2K, where the ball behaves erratically and goes through the hoop from impossible angles. Many fans and commentators on social media compared Westbrook’s shot to the NBA 2K glitch, and some even joked that he was playing on rookie difficulty.
This version of the footage really puts the craziness of the shot in perspective.
Here’s the same type of thing happening in NBA 2K in terms of the ball physics. Can it even be called a glitch anymore since it happened in real life?
Westbrook finished the game with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. The Bulls were humbled after they were talking that talk against the Lakers the game prior. The Clippers are now fifth in the Western Conference with a 39-36 record, while the Bulls are tenth in the Eastern Conference with a 36-38 record. Despite the loss they are still 7-3 in their last 10 games, which is impressive.