Russell Westbrook has openly said he is not going to stand for people calling him “Westbrick,” but the Los Angeles Lakers star is certainly living up to the nickname.
Westbrook is averaging just 18 points per game, which is his lowest mark since his second year in the NBA. The star point guard has been an erratic shooter throughout his career, but those issues have been even more pronounced in his first season with the Lakers. He’s been downright abysmal since the New Year.
According to StatMuse, Westbrook is shooting just 22 percent from three-point range since Jan. 1. He has hit just 9 percent of his threes since the All-Star break last month. Westbrook is known for putting up triple-doubles, but he has none in 2022.
Westbrook has been struggling all year, which is why Skip Bayless and others began calling him “Westbrick.” While the nickname isn’t vulgar, Westbrook insists it is disrespectful and has impacted his family. Of course, the best way for him to put a stop to it would be to start making shots. He clearly has not done that, especially in recent weeks.
The Lakers have lost 11 of their last 14 games and are in danger of falling out of the postseason. Even LeBron James may have taken a subtle shot at Westbrook following a recent loss. It’s hard to imagine things getting much worse in L.A., and Westbrook’s inability to shoot the ball consistently has been a big factor in the team’s struggles.
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