Not too long ago, Russell Westbrook was one of the best players in the NBA. He even won the NBA MVP award for his fabulous performance in the 2016-17 NBA season. Russ averaged a triple-double that season to win the MVP award.
Anyway, fast forward to 2022; Russ’ career is nowhere near the same heights that it was a couple of years ago. He joined the Los Angeles Lakers last year to team up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
But that experiment failed miserably as the Lakers missed the playoffs. Russ had an underwhelming season, and he became a target of a lot of insults from Lakers fans. So much so that the Lakers want to trade him, but due to his poor contract, they aren’t able to find a team for him.
It seems many believe that Westbrook is no longer a good player, and he might soon be reduced to a role player in the NBA. The popular Twitter account “NBA Central” recently asked its followers’ opinions on a hypothetical debate.
It included Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, and D’Angelo Russell. Fans were simply asked to pick which of the three they would start, bench, or cut from a team.
Start one
Bench one
Cut one pic.twitter.com/aXY8IMr9PP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 17, 2022
Since Westbrook’s reputation has taken a huge hit this past season, many fans picked Russ to be cut from the team. However, there were still some fans who wanted others to stop disrespecting Westbrook.
Start D'Lo cuz he could shoot.
Bench Ben cuz he can play defense.
Cut Westbrick cuz he can't do both.
— Laker Willy 😈🏆 (@LakerWilly) August 17, 2022
The Simmons and Westbrook disrespect is getting out of hand there miles better than Dlo
— 𝔹𝕠𝕝𝕨𝕣𝕝𝕕 (@BolWrld) August 17, 2022
This Russ disrespect is getting outta hand pic.twitter.com/U4cf7GEL66
— 𝕵𝖆𝖗𝖎❄️🎄 (@JariDaRealist) August 17, 2022
Dlos playoffs stats. I don’t think the casual fan realises how putrid he is pic.twitter.com/GWq0f1Nb1O
— Tugg Speedman (@tugg_mph) August 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/PGSupremacy/status/1559702642124890113
Start Russ bench ben Simmons cut D’Angelo Russell is the only correct answer.
— Thors (@WhatSeparatesMe) August 17, 2022
Dlo starts because he's the most well rounded of the 3. Bench Simmons because he is an incredible defender and is much younger. Cut russ because of hes more inconsistent than the others
— ShockerSports (@ShockerSports13) August 17, 2022
I truly believe that after this upcoming season, nobody will sign Westbrook ever again. He is finished
— Theodore Cojuangco-Laurel (@theodore_laurel) August 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/BennyEvien/status/1559704816791670785
Start DLo. Decent shooter.
Bench Russ. Poor shooter.
Cut Simmons. Can't/doesn't shoot.
— Shaun Holt (@AuthorShaunHolt) August 17, 2022
https://twitter.com/TLSmma/status/1559702774744551426
Start Simmons for defence and passing, bench dlow for team play and some buckets. Cut Westbrook for inefficiency and a lack of sacrifice
— Joshua Thompson (@joshuaphilipt1) August 17, 2022
It is truly sad to see the amount of disrespect that Russell Westbrook is getting after an underwhelming season with the Lakers. It’s true that he is out of his prime.
But when we compare him to Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell, he is, without a doubt, a better player than both of them. Russ really needs to have a great new season to prove that he’s still a good player.
