LeBron James on Russell Westbrook: 'Can't wait for him to go off this season'
The Los Angeles Lakers made a change at point guard by acquiring Patrick Beverley in a trade Wednesday night, but LeBron James said Thursday that he's still confident in the team's 2021-22 starting point guard Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook, 33, came to the Lakers via trade in August 2021 but struggled in his first season with the team. The nine-time All-Star scored 18.5 points per game, his lowest average since his second season in the NBA. Despite Westbrook's struggles last year, James tweeted that he expects big things from the point guard in the 2022-23 season.
Westbrook and Beverley have a bit of history dating back to the former suffering a season-ending injury in 2013 after colliding with the latter. In 2019, Westbrook was asked about the hounding defense of Beverley and provided a now famous quote.
"Pat Bev trick y'all, man," Westbrook told reporters. "Like he plays defense. He don't guard nobody, man. It's just running around, doing nothing."
Beverley, who spent last season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, said on a podcast earlier this year that the comment from Westbrook damaged his career and caused NBA players and coaches to look at him differently.
More must-reads: