Even though the NBA Finals are currently ongoing, the basketball world has its attention on the Los Angeles Lakers and what will happen with their search for their next head coach. Once it was announced that UConn head coach Dan Hurley turned the Lakers’ offer down, it took everyone by surprise. Now, the Lakers have gone back to the drawing board to continue their hiring process.
While some responded with surprise, there was one former Laker who had a different reaction. Russell Westbrook, whose Lakers tenure was an absolute disaster for both sides, didn’t waste any time trolling his former employer about Hurley’s snub.
Westbroook liked the social media post which announced Hurley’s decision to not sign with the Lakers.
This was seen as petty by some but in Westbrook’s defense, it’s totally understandable. He thinks he was unfairly scapegoated by the Lakers, who put together an ill-fitting roster that didn’t work. Westbrook was an awful fit next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis and the front office went ahead and gave up all of their depth and assets to acquire him. That is not Russ’s fault.
It is also fair to say that Westbrook didn’t cover himself in glory with the Lakers. He played much worse than expected and the team actually got better once he was traded away in the middle of the 2022-23 season.
Westbrook started playing well with the Clippers, finding a bench role that suits him better. Therefore, both sides are better off now. However, Westbrook is still clearly holding a grudge against the Lakers and he will continue to be a villain in the eyes of the Lakers fanbase as he has become a caricature of the team’s struggles in the LeBron James era. Whether that is deserved or not is a different question.
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