After putting together a modern-day dream team, the Los Angeles Lakers fell short of a postseason run. With only two games left, LA is 11th in the Western Conference with a record of 31-49. But what happened to the seemingly star-studded roster?
One of the biggest pieces that fell apart this season was Russell Westbrook. The Lakers acquired the veteran point guard in August of 2021. They made the trade in hopes to see his iconic gameplay blossom in LA, only to see it dwindle.
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According to ESPN, the Lakers lost faith in Westbrook very early on in his career in Los Angeles.
“I think they lost faith in Russ as a ball handler after the first few weeks…And he knew it because they took him off the ball and started asking him to stand in the corner or set screens,” a team source said, quote courtesy of ESPN.
The news outlet's article goes on to say that Westbrook quickly digressed as a player after the shift was made. His performance changed so drastically that people began to wonder if something was physically wrong with Westbrook. However, people close to him said that Westbrook has had his hands “thoroughly checked by a specialist” and receives treatment on them similar to his routine treatment on his knees and ankles.
Westbrook has been awarded many different honors in 13 seasons in the league including regular-season MVP in 2017. Despite an overwhelmingly successful personal career, the veteran has never been on a championship-winning NBA team. Now, Westbrook and the Lakers need to figure out what's best for their individual futures moving forward.
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