Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook said he didn't know how to handle coming off the bench in the Lakers' preseason finale and it "absolutely" led to his groin injury.

and the thing is he’s going to get the blame no matter what because the Lakers aren’t a championship contender. Everything else that comes around it, I’ll continue doing what I’m doing, stay locked in on my craft and everything else will take care of itself.” “You know what man, I’m super blessed and leaning a lot on my faith,” Westbrook said. “It’s time for the Lakers to move him,”Barkely said on TNT. “And no one better than him.” But that’s something I just wasn’t accustomed to.”

Westbrook (hamstring) is active for Tuesday's game against Golden State, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports. Westbrook, along with Anthony Davis ...

• Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists across 78 starts for the Lakers during the 2021-22 season.

Kevin Durant believes today's NBA media has done a drastic narrative on Russell Westbrook's play last season. He believes it's reached high scales of toxic.

“When you’re playing alongside the biggest figure in L.A in LeBron James everything you do is gonna be magnified,” said Durant. Now, KD has shared his thoughts on the negativity surrounding his former teammate for Westbrook’s recent play with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=los+angeles+lakers). At age 33, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, the third lowest average in his career. “I get criticism [on the court] but it’s starting to turn into something else now.” A stunning turn of events in the series led to Durant departing from Oklahoma City, to join that same Dubs squad. [Stephen Curry](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=stephen+curry), [Klay Thompson](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=klay+thompson) and [Draymond Green](https://www.slamonline.com/?s=draymond+green), Durant dealt with his own criticism when he made the move.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook is one of the most criticized players in the entire NBA. This criticism has only increased over the last ...

Watching his former teammate be criticized the way he has been, Durant came to his defense, saying NBA dialogue has reached a toxic level. This unwarranted criticism was on full display during a recent pre-season game, when videos went viral of Westbrook standing away from his teammates while they were huddled up both pre-game and during the game. While Westbrook has not played to the level he or the Lakers hoped for, much of the criticism he receives is unwarranted.

After experimenting with numerous lineup configurations throughout the preseason, Darvin Ham will roll out a lineup of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, ...

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at [@JacobRude](https://twitter.com/JacobRude). But it’s so remarkably on-brand for the Lakers because, obviously, nothing can be normal with this franchise at any point. It’s probably unlikely that the Warriors were scouting PatBev’s podcast, or that it really matters in the long run. Also mainly because there are next to no wings on the roster as well. Given the limited amount of minutes he played alongside a traditional center this preseason, the decision seemed to have long been made. With a host of Lakers guards on the roster, starting a three-guard lineup always felt like the likeliest outcome.

After the Los Angeles Lakers season-opening loss, Russell Westbrook cited his hamstring injury with an unfamiliarity with a bench role.

And for me, like, the way I play the game — fast-paced, quick, stop-and-go — and when I subbed in, I felt something … [blamed his recent injury](https://clutchpoints.com/lakers-news-did-russell-westbrook-blame-his-back-injury-on-getting-benched-by-frank-vogel/) on the physical tolls of coming off the bench. Westbrook Westbrook’s pregame routines have been a focus of conversation over the past week. Being honest, I was trying to figure out how to try to stay warm and loose. Last February, Russell Westbrook said being benched in crunchtime led to a back injury.

Westbrook's play and actions have been heavily scrutinized in Los Angeles.

Almost all of the on-court criticism has been fair; Westbrook did not play well last season and does not fit next to LeBron James and It's getting to a point where it's like alright, I get the criticism for what he did that night, but now it's starting to reach a different level with some shit that I don't understand right now. I get criticism [on the court], but it's starting to turn into something else right now." "I understand that there's certain points where you don't play well and you are open to criticism when you don't play well -- we get that. "It's like now you're making him the butt of your jokes. In the newest episode of his "The ETCs" podcast with Boardroom, Durant said criticism of Westbrook has gone too far and called the current media climate "toxic."

Westbrook finished Tuesday's 123-109 loss to the Warriors with 19 points (7-12 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal in 31 minutes.

• As a team, the Lakers shot 10-of-40 from the perimeter, a number that will need to increase should they hope to challenge for the title once again. [Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/), a role that seemed uncertain for many heading into the season.

Klay Thompson added 18 points and three assists for the Warriors in the victory, while LeBron James (31 points, 14 rebounds, eight assists) and Anthony Davis ( ...

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Russell Westbrook said he "absolutely" believes that Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham's decision to bring him off the bench in L.A.'s ...

... I think he needs a fresh start, I think the Lakers need a fresh start, because they're not contenders." "I think we played well," Davis said. "I don't think he was ever out of [the starting group]," Davis said. "I admire him. "You know, man, I'm super blessed and leaning a lot on my faith," Westbrook said. I thought he was solid. I respect him. "We wanted to come out and everybody be aggressive. traded for Westbrook in the summer of 2021. A couple possessions I wish I can get back, but overall, I thought he was solid." ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to." "Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame.

Russell Westbrook, back in the starting lineup in the Lakers' opener Tuesday night, said he "absolutely" believes coming off the bench in L.A.'s preseason ...

... I think he needs a fresh start, I think the Lakers need a fresh start, because they're not contenders." "I think we played well," Davis said. "I don't think he was ever out of [the starting group]," Davis said. "I admire him. "You know, man, I'm super blessed and leaning a lot on my faith," Westbrook said. I thought he was solid. I respect him. "We wanted to come out and everybody be aggressive. traded for Westbrook in the summer of 2021. A couple possessions I wish I can get back, but overall, I thought he was solid." ... That's something I just wasn't accustomed to." "Honestly, I didn't even know what to do pregame.

Russell Westbrook had some choice quotes about the source of his hamstring injury after the Lakers first loss of the season.

Bench Russ and things happen because he just doesn’t know how to stay warm and loose. Start Russ and get 31 minutes of play. After playing 31 minutes as a starter for Los Angeles on NBA opening night, Russell Westbrook took the opportunity to send a message to his team. “I’ve been doing the same thing for 14 years straight...Honestly, I didn’t even know what to do pregame. [Russell Westbrook]said he “absolutely” believes that [Los Angeles Lakers]coach Darvin Ham’s decision to bring him off the bench in L.A.’s preseason finale could have caused the hamstring strain he suffered that night. [Lakers](https://www.silverscreenandroll.com) vibe seems to be a disaster picking up where things left off after last season’s 10th place finish.

Hall of Fame power forward-turned-essential Turner Sports broadcaster Charles Barkley weighed in on the growing Russell Westbrook trade chatter during your ...

The Lakers were only trailing by seven points at the time of this statement, but Barkley was exactly right. The Lakers mounted a few fake comeback attempts in the early goings of the fourth period, but they were cooked. First of all, the Lakers stink, we can get that out of the way. I think he needs a fresh start, I think the Lakers need a fresh start because they're not contenders... As Barkley's on-court rival-turned-TNT bestie (oh yeah, and a former Lakers legend) Shaquille O'Neal noted, Westbrook had actually enjoyed a decent personal game up to that point, having gone 5-for-8 from the floor, including 1-for-1 from three. Barkley went on the rampage during the halftime break (recorded live from outside the Chase Center in San Francisco), laying out uncomfortable truths about the awkward fit of Westbrook with James and Davis.

The Lakers' Russell Westbrook said coming off the bench in the final preseason game is what led to his hamstring tweak that had him day-to-day.

[Lakers will again start to look at Westbrook trades](https://twitter.com/_Talkin_NBA/status/1581000034044514305) (unless they get off to a fast start, so far they are 0-1 with the Clippers next on Thursday). [Westbrook said all the right things throughout the preseason](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/09/26/westbrook-says-hes-all-in-on-whatever-it-takes-for-this-team-to-win/) about doing whatever new coach [Darvin Ham](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/28377/darvin-ham) asks, fitting in and putting the team first. Of course, he said all the right things before joining the Lakers, too, [ but that wasn’t previous coach Frank Vogel’s experience](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/04/09/westbrook-demanding-to-bring-ball-up-court-other-ways-his-fit-at-core-of-lakers-troubles/). Westbrook had 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in the Lakers opener Tuesday night, and he was 1-of-3 from 3. There had been a question if he would even play in the opener after [ Westbrook tweaked his hamstring just five minutes](https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/10/15/westbrook-receptive-to-bench-role-but-leaves-first-game-early-with-hamstring-injury/) into the Lakers’ final preseason game, the one game where Westbrook came off the bench. Did coming off the bench lead to Westbrook’s hamstring issue?

After Tuesday's debut loss to the Golden State Warriors, Russell Westbrook was asked about his temporary preseason bench role and how it affected him.

If the Lakers are to right the ship, Westbrook must be healthy and play well. I thought he was solid. And it resulted in all three of us pretty much being efficient from the floor.” Coach Darvin Ham has [been the most critical voice](https://www.slamonline.com/nba/darvin-ham-on-russell-westbrooks-role-next-season-i-got-a-wholehearted-plan/) trying to [find new ways to integrate](https://www.slamonline.com/nba/lakers-eliminated-from-play-in-tournament/) the [triple-double king](https://www.slamonline.com/nba/182-russell-westbrook-passes-oscar-robertson-to-break-nbas-all-time-triple-double-record/) into the offense and maximize his impact. Despite the loss, the Lakers Big 3 looked more fluid in their offensive execution, and they thought so too. Westbrook has played in 1,022 career games and has started 1,005 of them. When asked about his decision to start Westbrook on opening night, Ham was complimentary of Russell Westbrook. He kicked in three assists and a steal as well. He strained his hamstring early on and never returned. Westbrook has started every NBA game he has played since his rookie year. Honestly, I didn’t even know what to do pregame. In what later became a 47-point loss, Brodie only played 5 minutes off the bench.