The Los Angeles Lakers are currently going through a complex offseason, linked with a group of players that can bring something new to Crypto.com Arena. Still, it seems like their fans have already made up their minds about who they want to see defending their colors next season.
After a tumultuous first season with the Purple and Gold, Russell Westbrook has been linked with a move away from LA, and now that Kyrie Irving is reportedly on his way out of Brooklyn, the 17-time NBA champions are reportedly the clear-cut favorites to land Irving this offseason.
These two situations met on Friday night when some Lakers fans decided to express their desire to have Kyrie on the team, even with Russell Westbrook in front of them. During the Lakers’ Summer League game, the team’s fanbase started a ‘We Want Kyrie’ chant to show that they’re really keen to bring in Irving.
As of right now, there is no video of the chant, but many fans on Twitter commented about it, laughing and making jokes about the Lakers supporters having no mercy towards Russell Westbrook, who was there to hear everything.
https://twitter.com/Buddha10p/status/1545606034911371265
Being Russ and hearing we want Kyrie chants has to suck I kinda feel bad for dude
— Jayden Smith (@Jaydensmith24_8) July 9, 2022
Crowd chanting “we want Kyrie” w/ Russ in the building lmaooo
— Control….What You Can Control (@IamKing_RL) July 9, 2022
He’s literally hearing “We Want Kyrie” chants from the Laker crowd
I know he’s hurting
— 🙂 (@LerfondlerNBA) July 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/kalelsnow/status/1545643431069773824https://twitter.com/josh2saint/status/1545656557345521664
"WE WANT KYRIE"
NO PUEDE SERRR!!!!
— YostinNBA (@YostinNBA) July 9, 2022
And then fans chanting “WE WANT KYRIE” while russ just sitting there😂
— #THAONE (@wpchris10) July 9, 2022
“We want Kyrie…we want Kyrie” pic.twitter.com/fL2Wg8l7m1
— Ralph Mason (@Ralph_MasonJr) July 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/phxIIymxkan/status/1545650664801538048
Laker fans chanting “we want Kyrie” with Russ in the building is cold blooded lmao
— ً (@homeronmyneck) July 9, 2022
I was there and there we definitely “We want Kyrie” chants coming from the Lakers side of the arena. It was brief but it was audible.
— AJ° ™ (@AJsHoopHype) July 9, 2022
Y’a eu des chants "We Want Kyrie" avec Pelinka LeBron et Rich Paul …
JUSTE DEVANT WESTBROOK 😭 pic.twitter.com/ourDbMtX5d
— Koko (@madkng24) July 9, 2022
This situation gets tenser every day. Even though Darvin Ham has made it clear that he wants Westbrook to succeed, and LeBron James has shown his support for Brodie, recent reports only make people think that the situation isn’t as happy as many would have thought.
After only one season in SoCal, Westbrook has earned a lot of hate from Lakers fans. This is obviously not his fault since he was the one pushing for this move, but seeing how bad he played last season, you can see why fans want him out of the team as soon as possible.
It remains to be seen if the Nets part ways with Kyrie this offseason, as they don’t want to make a move with the veteran point guard without first handling the Kevin Durant issue.
