After one of his most humiliating games of the season, Russell Westbrook followed it up with a signature performance.
With 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and a lot of late-game heroics, Russ became the hero of Friday’s overtime win over Toronto, sticking it to all the haters who called him out earlier this week and throughout the year.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK AT THE DEATH pic.twitter.com/zI4Eycbi1t
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 19, 2022
Russell Westbrook tonight:
22 points
10 rebounds
10 assists
+7 +/-
Game tying 3 to go into OT ✅ pic.twitter.com/ACZ1cn2bJj
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) March 19, 2022
On Twitter, many fans and analysts couldn’t help but give props to Westbrook for coming out and dominating in spite of everything that has transpired.
This has to be Russell Westbrook best game in a Lakers uniform. He was under control for the most part, shot efficient from the field, couple of key defensive stops and a big time 3 pointer to send into OT! Carry the hell on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 19, 2022
Russell Westbrook is now 143-51 in his career when he gets a triple-double.. but I thought stat padding ??
— Ben Stinar (@BenStinar) March 19, 2022
Westbrook after hitting the game tying 3 pic.twitter.com/cibfRQ8xAz
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) March 19, 2022
Westbrook just followed up a Westbrick with a steal AND AN IMPOSSIBLY GREAT CLUTCH TYING THREE NEAR THE BUZZER.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) March 19, 2022
I TOLD ALL YALL MFS RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS NOT FINISHED. PUT SOME RESPECT ON HIS MF NAME pic.twitter.com/tfqFhAO5Yb
— J 🐳 (@216chels) March 19, 2022
https://twitter.com/mollyhannahm/status/1504999698645532675
Lebron to Westbrook after he made the clutch game tying 3 pic.twitter.com/D02pZbWS7F
— Happy Lakers fan (@oprahsideclark) March 19, 2022
Russell Westbrook in the 4th quarter 😤 pic.twitter.com/qIVtEYvTLX
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) March 19, 2022
Obviously, Westbrook has been at the center of blame and criticism all season long. In the eyes of many, his play is what is most to blame for L.A.’s struggles this season.
Through it all, Russ has brushed off all the hate and has continued to press on and play his game.
“Never give up or give in. It’s not something, in my opinion, that should seep into anybody’s mind,” said Westbrook back in January. “Halfway through the season, we’re not in a position we wanna be in right now and that’s okay. We know what we need to do as a team and just find a way to get over the hump and close games out. That’s all we can do.”
“Can’t worry about what could’ve happened, what we should’ve done, and where we’re supposed to be. Nobody knows where we’re supposed to be, everybody has their own opinion of what they think or how they think we are supposed to be playing. But based on a lot of our circumstances we have found ways to battle through it all and we’re still doing that as we speak and we’ll make the best of it and keep our energy positive and find ways to be able to get a win.”
Tonight was an outlier of what has been a terrible season from Russ and the Lakers. There is no evidence that anything will change for the team long-term.
But if you’re a Lakers fan, there is reason to be hopeful. Westbrook hasn’t lost his passion for the game, nor has he lost the ability to be the guy we all saw in OKC and Houston.
If he can somehow figure out how to be that guy more often, it could change everything for the play-in-bound Lakers this season.
