The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook this past offseason in a package that included Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and several other assets. There was a hope that he would be able to mesh well with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, thereby creating a Big Three that would be comparable to the one many anticipated the Brooklyn Nets would have in 2021-22.
Of course, things didn’t quite go according to plan. While Westbrook has complemented James and Davis reasonably well from a personality standpoint, he has been deeply inconsistent on the court.
Sometimes Westbrook will look great, like when he dropped 27 points and 7 assists on the Houston Rockets this week. Other times he will give you 8 points and 4 turnovers, like he did just a few weeks back versus the Golden State Warriors.
One of the things that has haunted Westbrook this year, and in seasons prior, is his shooting. So far he is an atrocious 22 percent from beyond the arc through eight games. That has earned him a certain nickname among fans.
While that nickname has mostly been reserved for social media, it somehow found itself on TV this week when Derek Fisher accidentally uttered it during a broadcast.
Derek Fisher accidentally calls Russell Westbrook “Russell Westbrick”
(h/t @LakersDailyCom) pic.twitter.com/bwFQLADJ5f
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 3, 2021
Oops.
This obviously isn’t Fisher’s first public awkward moment. His run-in with Vanessa Bryant will forever live in the cringe Hall of Fame.
Big picture, Westbrook got off to a slow start this season. He got into not one, but two separate fights with fans – plus somehow got entangled in a gang signs controversy. And his on-the-court struggles speak for themselves.
Now that’s a Halloween costume. https://t.co/WVK6W11K9M
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 1, 2021
Fortunately, it feels like he is turning a corner. Will he be able to come back strong, play hard and lead the Lakers to a championship in 2021-22? Time will tell.
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Charles Kruger has been credentialed to cover two Super Bowls, four NBA Finals, and one World Series. A 20-year veteran in the sports world, he has sources spanning the NBA, MLB, NFL, UFC and NASCAR. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Calif., he is Game 7’s go-to source for rumors surrounding the Lakers, Clippers and Dodgers.
