While there's a laundry list of factors that led to the nightmarish 2021-22 season for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Russell Westbrook trade is seen as one right at the top of the list.
It's not all on Russell Westbrook. The Lakers were the ones who brought him over in the first place. It was LeBron James and Anthony Davis who courted him over dinner as they daydreamed about winning a championship together. It took two to tango.
However, the way Russell Westbrook handled the adversity didn't help mitigate any of the emerging problems. According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, the former MVP's attitude in the face of criticism didn't do him any favors in his first Lakers season.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5A53alv7I8uub6EBQYFFXZ?si=f96577c8eb7147c2
Via ESPN:
Westbrook didn't make things any easier on himself either. “I think the problem with Russ has been Russ's response to all of it,” a Lakers source said. “He doesn't leave a window for people to have empathy for him.”
Westbrook grew defiant and stubborn in the face of criticism. His nightly sessions with the local media were often combative and terse.
Russell Westbrook has never been the most friendly when it comes to the media or facing criticism. But the spotlight was brighter and the callouts were harsher while wearing purple and gold than ever before. It created an environment that brought reportedly made him wary of the people around him all throughout the year.
“The reality of the season was that Russ has been in a dark corner, and he doesn't know who to trust or who to believe,” a team source said. “Then, if something doesn't go well for him, he backs up a little more.”
It was much more fun in theory than in practice for Russell Westbrook in his first season with the Lakers. The California native's homecoming has been less than ideal which has certainly been a tough pill for him to swallow.
Follow Us
Subscribe