Russell Westbrook accidentally created a new nickname for Crypto.com Arena

Los Angeles Laker Russell Westbrook misheard a press conference question that led to a new nickname for the Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles. 

Russell Westbrook may have come most recently from the Washington Wizards, but the California native hails from Long Beach, CA. He’s finally back home in Los Angeles, and he’s been making that known with a few sly slips on the court and in press conferences.

On Thursday, Westbrook was listening to a reporter’s question about the recent announcement that the Staples Center would be renamed the Crypto.com Arena on Dec. 25.

Westbrook didn’t hear the question, causing him to give the arena a new L.A.-centric nickname.

“The Crip? What’d you say, the Crip Arena?” Westbrook asked.

“I didn’t know what you said. My bad, I thought you said the Crip Arena,” Westbrook laughed as he shrugged his shoulders.

Russell Westbrook calls Crypto.com Arena “the Crip Arena”

This isn’t the first time Westbrook has been affiliated with a Crip reference since he moved back to Los Angeles.

During an Oct. 30 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Westbrook was seen dancing as he casually dribbled downcourt. “G’ed Up” by the Eastsidaz was blaring over the Staples Center speakers, which made Westbrook feel like dancing in the moment.

His particular moves resembled the Crip Walk made famous by the Los Angeles-based Crips gang.

Westbrook soon clarified his thoughts in the moment, saying that he enjoys dancing and wanted to bring “swag and energy” to the Lakers.

“All I heard was the music and I was like, ‘Oh, this is my joint right here.’ This is my …’ And then my feet start moving. That’s just how it works with me,” Westbrook said. “So, I love to dance and it’s something that I kind of enjoy doing. So, it kind of happened in the middle of the game but, you know, enjoying it. But that also goes to what I mentioned after that game about just our swag and my energy. That’s who I am and in order for us to be who we need to be, I need to be who I am and be free and do things where, to me, it feels normal.”

In 2017, Westbrook shared some dance moves on social media that had people asking then if he was emulating the Crip Walk. While Westbrook hasn’t claimed any affiliation, the idea of him Crip Walking in the Crip Arena is the most L.A. thing imaginable.