Wherever Will Smith goes, the infamous Chris Rock incident arguably always follows him. So when Will Smith recently visited the Los Angeles Lakers’ training camp, fans jumped to bring out the Oscar incident and the Will Smith narrative. Some Lakers fans hoped to see Will Smith repeat his infamous Oscar action on one player, Russell Westbrook.
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Huge thank you to Will Smith, who joined the team to discuss strength through togetherness, and practicing gratitude in times of great challenge. All themes in his forthcoming masterpiece film, Emancipation.
🎙 | Lakers Genius Talk pic.twitter.com/H2Pt0bmBhr
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 26, 2022
LeBron James’ Lakers look troubled on the court, having a 0-4 record so far this season. The Lakers fraternity is targeting one player for the lack of championship-level gameplay, and that is the nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook. So when Will Smith spent time with the Lakers, fans did not hold back on expressing their desires.
The Chris Rock treatment for Russell Westbrook
In training camp, Will Smith and the Lakers discussed “strength through togetherness” and “practicing gratitude during tough times”. After the Los Angeles Lakers posted about this meet-up, NBA fans tore into LeBron James‘ Lakers.
One fan tweeted that Lakers fans would “pay lower-level ticket prices to see Will Smith give Russell Westbrook the Chris Rock treatment”.
Now if you are a Laker fan, let’s face it, you would pay lower level ticket prices to see Will Smith give Russell Westbrook the Chris Rock treatment. pic.twitter.com/OMVcx4GZo3
— Hubie Talks Hoops (@HubieTalksHoops) October 26, 2022
This tweet received around 200 likes, and the reactions that followed were:
One fan believed that Russell Westbrook had already been slapped and tweeted:
By the look in Russ’ face, Will already did. Maybe that’s why Stephen A. Smith reports Russ wants out of LA.
— BobbyV (@BobbyVergara) October 26, 2022
— PurpleHeart💜🕊🪬 (@JBoogie2494) October 26, 2022
Some fans believe that Russell would fight back:
Russ would of swing back
Draymond green style— SammyAntoine (@sammy_antoine8) October 27, 2022
Russ would beat the brakes off of Will Smith
— Lakers Purp (@Lakers_Purp) October 26, 2022
LeBron James’ Lakers in a crisis
For the world to see a team with LeBron James lose four games in a row is possibly rather shocking. The Lakers are in a crisis with all fingers seemingly pointed at Russell Westbrook. With Westbrook’s poor shot selection and almost zero on-court chemistry with the team, Westbrook has undoubtedly had a terrible start to the season.
ALSO READ: Caught on Camera: LeBron James Loses His Cool Mid-Game on Russell Westbrook
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Despite contributing to a solid defensive front, Westbrook’s offensive deficiencies stand out. His average points per game of 10.3 and field goal percentage of 28.9 aren’t helping him either in the eyes of fans.
“Just trying to do the best I can”, Westbrook flatly said to the media recently after the Lakers’ defeat to the Trail Blazers. The season is long and Westbrook’s fortunes can of course change. However, many Lakers fans seem to want him gone rather than continue trying to make it work.
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With a below-average court display and a championship title on the line, are the sentiments of Laker fans justifiable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.