Magic Johnson has harsh words for Russell Westbrook

Magic Johnson is the latest member to join the cast of the Hollywood series “Everybody Hates Russ.”

The retired Los Angeles Lakers great appeared Saturday on ESPN’s “NBA Countdown” and tore into Lakers guard Russell Westbrook.

“Quit battling the press,” Johnson advised Westbrook, per Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll. “Take ownership and accountability … I’m tired of the excuses.”

While Johnson did add that he thought the Lakers’ struggles this season were the fault of “everybody,” he also had an especially harsh take on the team’s acquisition of Westbrook over the summer.

“This trade could go down as the worst trade in Laker history if we don’t get out of the play-in game,” said Johnson.

As to Johnson’s point about the press, Westbrook does have a historically contentious relationship with them, as we have even seen this season. But that storyline has taken a backseat to Westbrook’s increasingly horrific play. The former MVP has been so bad for the Lakers that there is now talk that he is as good as gone this offseason.

As for Johnson, he rarely holds back about his beloved Lakers. Westbrook already had a war of words of sorts with Johnson earlier this season.