Russel Westbrook’s tenure with the Lakers was nothing short of a disaster, but there is still some debate on who is most to blame for their failure that season. Speaking on the ‘OGs’ podcast, former league swingman Quentin Richardson got real on the Westbrook experience in Los Angeles and blamed the fans for their mistreatment and disrespect of no. 0.
“Think about how the Lakers fans was trying to make it all about him. Their record’s the same,” said Richardson. “He’s showing that he’s for the team. To take himself out of the equation and say I’ll come off the bench … that’s all selfless behavior. Why didn’t he get shined more on? They was too busy trying to dog my G out…”
It’s undeniable that Westbrook was a bad fit for the Lakers and both sides are better off without each other. Even so, the way that Westbrook’s tenure played out still leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many and it’s the biggest blemish of the LeBron James era so far.
Disaster In Los Angeles
After failed stints with the Rockets and Wizards, Westbrook came to the Lakers in 2021 with high hopes of winning a title. But almost immediately, there were signs that things weren’t going to work out and when the Lakers struggled to open the season, it was Russ who got the most heat from the fans and analysts. That summer, the team tried to salvage the situation by replacing Frank Vogel with the pro-Westbrook coach, Darvin Ham. But when the Lakers started the 2022-23 campaign at 2-10, the hate for Westbrook reached all-time proportions.
On social media, Russ was constantly berated with slander and he later admitted that he and his family were receiving death threats during his time in Los Angeles. Needless to say, things got really ugly last season and by the time that Westbrook was finally traded in February, his presence in the locker room was compared to a “vampire” sucking the life out of its victim.
A Revival With The Clippers
Things got so low for Westbrook, that fans questioned whether he’d get another NBA contract again after his trade from the Lakers. But he quickly reached an agreement to join the Clippers, and he’s only been trending up ever since. Last season, he was instrumental for the Clips down the stretch of the season and was there to lead the way when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George went down with injuries in the first round.
This season, while his role has dipped with the arrival of James Harden, Westbrook remains a key piece of the rotation. in 42 games this season, Russ is averaging 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game on 46.7% shooting. The Clippers, who were shaky to begin the season, have been on fire recently and are now fourth in the West with a 28-14 record. Meanwhile, Westbrook’s old team is struggling to keep their heads above the water and is desperate for any signs of life from the supporting cast. At this point, it’s fair to say that Russ is in a better situation than the Lakers and if he goes on to win the title this season, it will be the ultimate validation for years of sacrifice.
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