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Reading: NBA Insider Reveals That The Lakers Wanted Russell Westbrook To Play A ‘Defense-First Off-Ball Role’ But It Didn’t Work Out: “Westbrook Has No Interest In Role Player Tasks”
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > NBA Insider Reveals That The Lakers Wanted Russell Westbrook To Play A ‘Defense-First Off-Ball Role’ But It Didn’t Work Out: “Westbrook Has No Interest In Role Player Tasks”

NBA Insider Reveals That The Lakers Wanted Russell Westbrook To Play A ‘Defense-First Off-Ball Role’ But It Didn’t Work Out: “Westbrook Has No Interest In Role Player Tasks”

Ishaan Bhattacharya
Jul 19, 2022
3 Min Read
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Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The messy relationship between the Los Angeles Lakers and Russell Westbrook seems to have finally reached the point of no repair. After Westbrook’s horrid season with the Lakers in 2021-22 and a refusal to accept a diminished role on the team, Russ has become a massive problem child for LA. With the recent firing of his agent, Westbrook is showing that his stubbornness can cause people who have worked with him for a decade-plus to up and leave him this season. 

The Athletic have shared a lot of interesting details about what’s happening in LA, including Westbrook’s refusal to see accept anything that he doesn’t believe is right for a player of his caliber. This includes focusing on defense and being primarily an off-ball player to the likes of LeBron James. 

Westbrook is not pleased by that idea and doesn’t intend on buying into Darvin Ham’s system like Ham has been expecting him to in his public appearances, The Lakers are in a position that is unenviable, as they cannot come to a resolution with their $47.1 million point guard.

Russell Westbrook and the Lakers seem to be headed toward 'an inevitable divorce,' per @jovanbuha

Splitting with his longtime agent has added to the perception Russ has become more difficult to deal with. pic.twitter.com/jjhORX2yr8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 18, 2022

The subtext to Foucher’s language was that Westbrook doesn’t want to adhere to new coach Darvin Ham’s vision for him: Westbrook becoming a defense-first point guard who plays more off the ball than he did last season (and of any season of his career). This, of course, isn’t surprising, as the Lakers used similar framing with Westbrook’s projected role last season and it never came to fruition. Westbrook has no interest in role-player tasks. (h/t The Athletic)

If Westbrook refuses to play the way LA wants him to, there is no reason for them to not trade him away, and it seems this is something that Westbrook wants. Even though his trade value is almost a negative right now, Westbrook was willing to fire his longtime agent just for saying he should see his contract out and redeem his value.

This troubled partnership between Brodie and the Lakers should be over as soon as tomorrow. However, that won’t happen unless the Lakers are willing to throw in either their 2027 or 2029 first-round pick. It will be interesting to see how they pivot from this.

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ByIshaan Bhattacharya
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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 Report, Yahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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