LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were not able to play together the way either had hoped. The duo was expected to elevate the Lakers to championship status. But they never quite gelled together, as both of them are ball-dominant players, and couldn’t really play together on the court. But despite how the season went, LeBron had nothing but kind things to say about Russell Westbrook.
In his exit interview, LeBron James was asked about his teammate Russell Westbrook’s work ethic and constant fight. James noted that Westbrook was extremely reliable, and he always brings a competitive spirit to each game. James noted that Westbrook’s desire to fight and win each night was something he loved about him, and he and others must respect Russ for the kind of work he puts in on a nightly basis.
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“One thing about Russ that I’ll love, that I’ll always love, is his competitive spirit that he brings every single night… To have a guy that’s reliable and can put on the uniform every single night, you have to respect that.”
LeBron James has been speaking very kindly about Russell Westbrook. He also noted that he enjoyed playing with Russell Westbrook and would love to get the chance to play with him next season. One has to wonder if LeBron really feels this way or if he’s trying to keep things cordial with Russ while he and the Lakers try to move Westbrook going into the offseason.
Westbrook himself took a few shots at LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He mentioned that while LeBron and Davis kept maintaining in the press that they needed Westbrook to be himself, that wasn’t actually the case on the court. Whether Russ plays for the Lakers next season remains to be seen, but as things stand, it seems unlikely.
