Playing in a big market team like the Los Angeles Lakers comes with its own pros and cons. If a player is doing well, he will be treated like a hero among the fans, but if he has a bad season, he will be utterly berated by the same fanbase who once wished him success.
Former NBA MVP and current point guard of the Lakers, Russell Westbrook’s time with the Purple and Gold is the perfect example of it. When the Lakers traded for Brodie, the entire fanbase was joyous as they thought he would form a Big 3 with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
But the experiment failed miserably as the Lakers didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament last season. As a result, most fans want him out of the team, and it feels like the Lakers also want to trade him. Russ even shared that the last season had a devastating impact on his family.
Russell Westbrook Is Unaffected By If He’s Wanted By The Lakers Or Not
It is abundantly clear that the Lakers want to trade Russ, but getting that done is not an easy task by any means due to Russ being on a bad contract.
So it seems most plausible that the 33-year-old will be on the Lakers roster, either as a starter or a bench player. Westbrook himself revealed his thoughts on potentially playing off the bench for the team.
In the same interview, the former NBA MVP also revealed that he’s unbothered about the rumors of the Lakers not wanting him on the team.
Via ESPN:
Russell Westbrook was wearing a bucket hat, flip-flops and a smile inside the conference room in his Avenue of the Stars offices. Trade talks stalled, training camp on the cusp and Westbrook hardly had to consider the question: Do you feel wanted by the Los Angeles Lakers?
“I don’t need to,” Westbrook told ESPN recently. “I need to just do my job. Whether I’m wanted or not doesn’t really matter. I think the most important thing is that I show up for work and I do the job like I’ve always done it: Be professional and go out and play my a** off and compete.”
Westbrook may have a few flaws in his game, but his work ethic has never been one. The Lakers guard works harder than most on the team and is always hungry for success.
To be honest, the Lakers need to see that version of Russ more often next season. If he can put his head down and fulfill the job that he’s required to do, he may actually help the Lakers win an NBA Championship alongside LBJ and AD.
