The NBA is no longer a friendly place for players hunting for fouls by throwing their bodies onto defenders. There will surely be adjustments on players who got so used to trapping opposing players into committing cheap fouls in the past, beginning this season. Asked about it after the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason game loss to the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night, Russell Westbrook did not fail to provide people something to laugh about.
shouts to @DanWoikeSports for asking Russ this question about getting fouled on a 3-point attempt, sacrificing himself for this content pic.twitter.com/o9giVJPSgE
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) October 13, 2021
Westbrooke finished the Warriors game with 10 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, five turnovers, and one pump fake that got Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins up in the air.
Refs still not calling it
(h/t @_Talkin_NBA)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 13, 2021
Westbrook did not draw a foul on that play, but he likely had if that was made last season. It seems that the NBA has finally discovered a vaccine against that kind of approach by offensive players. It might take some time before players become fully aware that the rule is now in place, so expect more than a handful of attempts from them to bait fouls by lunging into their defenders, especially early in the upcoming season.
Westbrook, who was traded to Los Angeles by the Washington Wizards back in August, and the Lakers will kick off the regular season at home on Oct. 19 against the Wiggins and the Warriors.