EL SEGUNDO, CA – With Frank Vogel sacked as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier within the day, Lakers guard Russell Westbrook has opened up concerning the break up that existed between the 2 in his first season in Los Angeles.
“I believe it is unlucky, frankly, as a result of I’ve by no means had an issue with any of my coaches earlier than,” Westbrook mentioned Monday after his exit interview with the Lakers entrance workplace. “I am undecided what his downside is with me or I am undecided why, however I am unable to actually provide you with a solution as to why we by no means contacted.”
Westbrook, who was the Lakers’ highest-paid participant throughout the 2023-22 season, has not solely completed tightening his grip on the coach. He took goal at a number of different points of his Lakers expertise that veered into his 21-minute press convention, detailing how he felt he had been wronged.
“Once I first bought right here, having the ability to do what I can do for a crew and group was not a good probability,” he mentioned.
Westbrook continued accountable false information experiences as a contributing issue to his struggles final season.
“The well-known ‘supply’ tales which have come out of me, whether or not it is between me and the solid, between me and Frank, me and the followers, there are a variety of made-up tales that aren’t true,” Westbrook mentioned. “He is simply at all times pressured to battle that continually. It is not like that [being] Give a good probability. He is like, ‘Okay, now I’ve to battle this made-up story. Now I’ve to battle this. Now I’ll battle this. Now I’ve to battle this. “
When requested straight to call one instance of a fabricated story about his time with the Lakers, he didn’t present a direct response.
No, Westbrook mentioned. “I am unable to. You understand the examples. I do not need to have the small print, what the story is, who wrote it, why… It does not make sense. It does not actually matter as a result of it isn’t true. If it is not.” t come from me [it is not true]. “
The 2017 Main League Participant of the 12 months additionally mentioned that LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ repeated intentions to “let Ross be Ross” in unlocking the most effective model of the previous All-Star had been misleading.
“sure, [they said it]’ mentioned Westbrook. However this was not true. “
When requested to make clear, Westbrook mentioned it needed to do with the items being unable to enrich one another.
“It is a mixture of the place we’re on the bottom, positioning, health and problem, trial and error, and the flexibility to play on the bottom with one another,” Westbrook mentioned. “Discovering methods to have the ability to use us to the most effective of our talents. It is that straightforward.”
Westbrook, who has a participant possibility for subsequent season value $47 million, had little reply when requested if he deliberate to play it. “Um,” he mentioned, “I’ll make the choice.” That is why it is referred to as ‘Participant’s Selection’.
Lakers vp of basketball operations and common supervisor Rob Pelinka has not dedicated to giving the James-Davis-Westbrook group one other probability subsequent season, ought to Westbrook join.
“Like every participant, we’ll companion with him after making that call on what’s finest for his future,” Pelinka mentioned. “Relaxation assured, we’ll look below each stone for tactics to be higher and be open to something that can enhance our crew and can put us able to compete at a better degree subsequent yr than we did this yr.”
Westbrook, who performed 78 video games and averaged 18.5 factors for 44.4% photographs (29.8% from 3), 7.4 rebounds and seven.1 assists per sport, admitted that his manufacturing didn’t meet his private requirements.
“Simply my theatrics normally, not my finest season, simply being out of my private realm,” he mentioned. “Clearly I am averaging a triple-double so something lower than that would not be a superb season for me in my eyes, you already know what I am saying? That is why his supply metric is a bit of totally different.”
After a loss to the Phoenix Suns final week that formally eradicated the Lakers from competing within the championship, Westbrook mentioned the “plan” could be to play in Los Angeles once more subsequent season so he, James and Davis can see their type collectively. With the good thing about well being. They’ve solely performed 21 video games collectively this season resulting from varied accidents, batting 11-10.
“I simply hope we’ll have an opportunity to have the ability to do one thing,” he mentioned.
After all of the grievances Westbrook shared on Monday, he was requested what would tempt him to need to play for the Lakers once more, with the added context that it seems to be inconsistent along with his earlier announcement.
“I imply, clearly there will probably be a variety of totally different modifications relying on who the coach is and the way we play and the way we play,” he mentioned. “So, that query is type of up within the air. However as soon as that call is made, we’ll type of begin from there.”
