Russell Westbrook has been in the news for a lot of reasons over the course of the last season. A lot of that is due to him having poor performances with the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems as though the media attention has followed Russell Westbrook into the offseason.
Recently, it was revealed that Russell Westbrook parted with his agent, Thad Foucher. The situation was notable because Thad Foucher released a statement explaining why he parted with Russell Westbrook, something that is not usually done. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN relayed Foucher’s statement.
“I represented Russell Westbrook for 14 years and am proud of our partnership which included a highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history. I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell’s behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers.
“Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell — and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.
“Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout.
“My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.
“Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best.”
Recently, NBA analyst Dan Le Batard has revealed that he’s never seen an agent do what Thad Foucher did, and expressed shock at that happening. He also pointed out that it seems as though that was Russell Westbrook’s agent initiating the split between the two.
“The agent lives in service of the client no matter what a dipshit the client is…You eat that if you’re the agent.” – Dan says he has never once seen an agent do what Russell Westbrook's agent did after the two parted ways.
📺https://t.co/FfVc2xZLil pic.twitter.com/1uNvXHBGIe
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) July 18, 2022
“I haven’t heard from Westbrook on his agent… What I saw is the agent breaking up with him and saying “irreconcilable differences”… The agent lives in service of the client no matter what a dips*it the client is… You are there as an advocate in service…You eat that as the agent… You know how much money Russell Westbrook’s made you?… Whether the truth is there, the agent has to conceal the truth in service of the client.
It is clear that this statement from Russell Westbrook’s agent has come as a shock to many people. While there may be some truth in that statement, Dan Le Batard makes a good point in saying that the agent is “in service” of the player.
Hopefully, we see Russell Westbrook find success next year, whether it is on the Los Angeles Lakers or otherwise. He is definitely still a solid point guard, and perhaps he can thrive on a different franchise in a different role.
