Russell Westbrook has had enough. Playing for his fourth team in as many years, the Lakers point guard has endured a frustrating 2021-22 season, averaging his fewest points (18.1 per game) since 2010 while rating as one of the least efficient players in the NBA. The nine-time All-Star appears to be on the outs with his hometown Lakers, with Westbrook’s “defiance” toward coaches seen as an “impossible” bridge to overcome, according to league insider Marc Stein.
Stylistically, Westbrook’s game, predicated on speed and athleticism, was bound to age poorly. But the 33-year-old’s critics have been unusually cruel of late, treating Westbrook as the Lakers’ de facto scapegoat amid what has been a disastrous season for the purple and gold. Shameless troll Skip Bayless has been especially merciless, recently drawing the ire of Westbrook’s wife Nina.
Westbrook appeared to reach his breaking point Monday night, confronting a heckler during the Lakers’ 117-110 loss to San Antonio. The reeling Lakers have lost eight of their last 10, a slump that has them fighting for their playoff lives. Westbrook has done little to stop the bleeding, shooting an embarrassing 6.3 percent on threes (1-of-16) since the All-Star break.
“My family has reached a point to where it’s really weighing on them,” Westbrook reflected after Monday night’s defeat. “And it’s very unfortunate for me personally because this is just a game. This is not be-all end-all.”
Fans haven’t shown much sympathy for Westbrook, in large part due to his bloated $44.2-million salary. Westbrook can handle the scrutiny that comes from being a public figure playing for a marquee franchise, but that doesn’t give fans and media talking heads like Bayless carte blanche to say whatever they want, launching personal attacks under the guise of “analysis.”
“When it comes to basketball, I don’t mind the criticism of missing and making shots,” said the former MVP. “‘Westbrick’ to me is shaming my name. It’s my legacy for my kids. It’s a name that means more, not just to me, but to my wife, to my mom, my dad, the ones that kind of paved the way for me. That’s just one example.”
Westbrook’s poor play has been magnified by injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the underachieving Lakers now confined to the outer fringes of the Western Conference playoff race, likely needing a play-in game to qualify. “It’s not great man. I think a lot of times I let it slide but now it’s time to put a stop to that and put it on notice,” said Westbrook, acknowledging that abuse from emboldened fans like the one who taunted him Monday night will no longer be tolerated. “There’s a difference. We need to make sure that it’s understood and every time I do hear it now, I will make sure that I address it and make sure that I nip that in the bud.”
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