What was once a dream has truly become a nightmare for Russell Westbrook. When the trade was made last year to send him to the Lakers, he was going back home to California in what was supposed to be a storybook end to his career, but it has been anything but that.
He struggled to fit in with LeBron James and Anthony Davis as the Lakers stumbled to a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs. A bulk of the blame for their failures was placed on Westbrook’s shoulders, and while some of it is deserved, the slander is getting out of hand at this point. Skip Bayless has been one of his most vocal critics, and Bayless was at it again recently, as he claimed that Westbrook shouldn’t be on the 75th Anniversary Team.
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1564281121415766017
“The fact that Russell Westbrook made the top 75 all-time, that should be rescinded to me after last year. I don’t think he belongs, well, I just don’t. I don’t see how he qualifies. I don’t see him as a slam dunk first-ballot Hall of Famer, though, everyone gets into the pro basketball Hall of Fame, so I’m sure he’ll be whisked right in.”
It is such an outrageous thing to say that Westbrook doesn’t belong on that team. He has won an MVP and has led the league in scoring as well as assists on multiple occasions. A rough season with the Lakers doesn’t equate to not deserving a spot, and the disrespect is really getting too much at this point. Bayless has been making outrageous statements regarding Russ all offseason, as he recently also claimed that Dennis Schroder is a better player than Westbrook.
“Right now, Dennis Schröder is better than Russell Westbrook. He would be more acceptable to LeBron, he would fit better next to LeBron and AD. He averaged 15 and 6 for the Lakers two years ago. He’s pretty nifty… Very good in the pick and roll. He would be much useful to LeBron and a better fit for LeBron than Russ would be… He’s not more delusional than Russell Westbrook about what his worth is.”
While he could perhaps be termed as a better fit, there is no way Schroder is a better player, as Bayless claims here. It’s just ridiculous for him to say that, just like it is ridiculous to say Westbrook shouldn’t be in the 75th Anniversary Team.
This failed stint with the Lakers shouldn’t be what defines his career, as he has accomplished so much. Hopefully, he gets a chance to redeem himself in his next stop, as this would be a very sad way to go out for Russ.
