Los Angeles Lakers fans are beyond excited after netting Russell Westbrook via trade, and for good reason. Pairing one former MVP with another seems like a no-brainer move to win a title. But Frank Vogel knows it's going to take a lot more than innate talent to get their newly formed Big 3 to work.
The Lakers coach was candid in his assessment of their Russell Westbrook addition. For the title-winning coach, it boils down to one word – sacrifice.
Via Matt Peralta of Lakers Nation:
“I think anytime you have three great players like this there is an element of sacrifice required and we’ve all talked about that and are all-in on that,” said the Lakers coach.
Russell Westbrook and LeBron James indeed have very similar skill sets that some believe may overlap to their detriment. But a similar criticism was poured on LeBron's first superstar trio alongside Dwyane Wade. That group made four NBA Finals and won two rings. Vogel sees this overlap as a strength rather than a weakness.
“These three guys can do it all and what I love about our group,” continued the Lakers coach. “Bron, AD and Russ, is they’re all make-the-right-play players, you know what I mean. It’s not just about scoring or being a one-dimensional player. They can all do it all, so I’m most excited about seeing what the three of them on the court at the same time looks like.
The on-court fit and playstyles of Russell Westbrook and LeBron James are understandably questionable. But as Frank Vogel emphasizes, these players don't exist in a vacuum. They've talked about the sacrifices it will take to get things done. All that's left is to see if their vision comes to life next season.
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