USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook (0) controls the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Westbrook had a tumultuous 2021-22 NBA season. He missed many shots and was considered a burden for the much vaunted Los Angeles Lakers team. Brought in with so much promise, he has instead been a subject of intense trolling and memes across social media. There were talks of trading him this off-season but those have rapidly gone as he signed an extension and opted into the final year of his contract worth $47 million.
According to NBA Insider Brian Windhorst, executives in the NBA have started to believe that the Lakers have concluded that they’re not trading Westbrook now. Windhorst has said that the Lakers do not like any of the offers sent and will make the best of what they have.
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The Lakers wanted Westbrook to stay because they see him as an essential part of the team. New coach Darvin Ham also backed him and previously said, “Russell Westbrook is one of the best players our league has ever seen, and there’s still a ton left in the tank.”
Westbrook may have been a symbol of failure for fans but the management still trusts him to come back and deliver the goods. Westbrook now has to repay the trust they have shown in him by playing well, as a repeat of last season’s showings would undoubtedly further harm his relationships with the fans of the purple and gold.
Fans are visibly split over this decision. Non-Laker fans have been laughing about it while the Lakers are ruminating about their future. These are some of the reactions seen on NBA Twitter:
They just couldn’t get nothing for him be honest 😭
— . (@JamesTrippinFr) September 9, 2022
May as well. Especially if he came off the bench…or played very little with Lebron on the floor, giving him more time to rest saving those legs for the following year., when Russ is bye bye and the lakers can start anew… https://t.co/sTPod2DyIR
— Rick Foruox (@raffzx) September 9, 2022
See what happens?? I guess we’ll just be enjoying Brons farewell seasons. https://t.co/3n2q79Yrn2
— Nigel☔️ (@nigelnyangwe) September 9, 2022
can this day get any worse https://t.co/wbbEBnDLYz
— Momo ⁶𓅓 (@ImThatMomo) September 9, 2022
Yet another year is going to waste 😐. At least we’ll get to see LeBron pass Kareem. So much for “making the roster better”. Thanks Rob & Jeanie! https://t.co/NF5phSd2f7
— BLACK ICE (@PattersonMister) September 9, 2022
Russell Westbrook has not performed to his standards
Russell Westbrook has been called ‘Westbrick’ by fans on social media. The 2017 league MVP shot 44% from the field and almost 30% from beyond the arc. He scored just 18.5 points per game last season.
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The biggest indication of his downfall was his player performance rating. He had a PIE rating of 11.3 which was his 2nd lowest since his rookie season in 2008-09. These are numbers that would have been unimaginable for Westbrook in 2017.
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Yet, the Los Angeles Lakers are keeping the faith. They have decided to keep Russell Westbrook for another year.
How do you think the Lakers will fare next season? How do you think Westbrook will perform? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
