NBA News: Russell Westbrook gets unexpected reaction in return to Lakers home
The relationship between Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles fans has evolved over time.
Denver Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook may divide opinions because of his style of play, but almost everyone agrees that he deserves respect for his attitude off the court.
On Wednesday night, Westbrook received a warm welcome from the fans at the Crypto.com Arena, the former home of his previous team, the Los Angeles Lakers.
The ovation came during the WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty. While enjoying some family time with his twin daughters, Skye and Jordin, Westbrook appeared on the pavilion’s “Look Who’s Here Cam.” Immediately, the audience erupted in applause and cheers as Westbrook and his daughters waved to the crowd.
Westbrook, a proud father, took the opportunity to introduce his daughters to basketball. Witnessing stars such as Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, and Dearica Hamby was undoubtedly a unique experience for the little ones.
It was a warm reception despite a disappointing stint with the Lakers
The positive reception from fans is remarkable, considering Westbrook’s irregular tenure with the Lakers. The 2017 MVP had one of the most complicated stages of his career with the Los Angeles team. The difficulties of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook in meshing their games caused the team to fail to qualify for the playoffs in the 2021-22 season.
While some Lakers fans still hold a grudge over Westbrook’s performance, it’s important to remember that the Crypto.com Arena is also the home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Despite not having a happy ending with that franchise either, Westbrook maintains a certain popularity among his fans.
Westbrook’s failed stints with the Lakers and Clippers
Westbrook’s arrival at the Lakers, after a historic 2020-21 season in which he led a mediocre Washington Wizards team to the playoffs, generated high expectations. However, the acquisition turned out to be a significant mistake. To bring in Westbrook, Los Angeles sacrificed key pieces from its 2020 championship team Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma which significantly weakened the roster.
The lack of spacing on the court due to Westbrook’s style of play made him a poor fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Additionally, the decision to weaken the bench to bring in a “third star” made it difficult to surround the trio with quality players.
The situation became so complicated that Westbrook was relegated to the bench in his second season before being traded. Interestingly, after his departure, the Lakers performed exceptionally well, reaching the Western Conference Finals.