Mychal Thompson Predicts 2022-23 Will Be A Comeback Season For Russell Westbrook: “Russ Is Going To Come In With The Right Attitude To Prove Everyone Wrong”

3 Min Read

Credit: Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers decided to take a massive gamble with their roster at the start of the 2021-22 season by trading a lot of their core roster depth in Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to trade for a non-shooting Russell Westbrook after he had a fantastic second half of the season to lead the Washington Wizards into the playoffs.

Playing alongside LeBron James, Westbrook was unable to replicate that success, having one of the worst years of his career on the court. Russ looked out of sync with the Lakers’ offense and former head coach Frank Vogel openly talked about how he needed to be benched. 

Former Lakers player and father of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, Mychal Thompson spoke about Russ openly, reiterating the belief that Russ will have a much better sophomore season if given a chance. 

“Russ got a lot of pride. Even though he didn’t have his best year last year, a lot of people are blaming him wrongly for the Lakers’ failure. I think Russ is gonna come in with the right attitude to prove everyone wrong. Darvin Ham isn’t a guy who’s afraid to speak his mind. LeBron, AD, and Russ respect that he isn’t afraid to speak his mind… I think Russell Westbrook is going to fall in line and comeback and have a strong season just to prove the doubters wrong.”  

Coach Darvin Ham has laid out a defensive role for Westbrook with the team, hoping he becomes a better corner shooter. He won’t be able to command the ball more than LeBron James, who’s still the best player on this team despite turning 38 next season. 

The possibilities of a Westbrook trade have slimmed down with the Nets allegedly holding on to Kyrie Irving. The Lakers might actually have to start the season with Westbrook on their team and it is best if the team figures out how to make that work instead of angling for trades all season. 

Newsletter

Stay up to date with our newsletter on the latest news, trends, ranking lists, and evergreen articles

Follow on Google News

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

Share This Article
Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *