Billy Donovan wants to establish a personal relationship with Russell Westbrook before they begin to discuss the basketball aspects of their partnership.
“I want to be able to sit down with Russell and talk to him and see how he’s feeling and what’s going through his mind,” said Donovan.
“The one thing I would say with Russell, I don’t want to at ever feel that with a new coach coming in, I want to hold him back or change him,” Donovan said. “He’s a great player. Has great passion, great heart, great intensity. I want him to be able to be who he is. I think that’s what the Thunder organization is about. Just like they’re trying to let me be who I am as a coach, I need to let Russell be who he is as a player.”