NBA Veterans Defend Russell Westbrook From Critics Calling Him 'Westbrick'

Russell Westbrook is one of the heavily criticized players in the NBA today, with fans and critics dissing him with the nickname "Westbrick." Thanks to the former league MVP's lackluster performance in the previous season that disappointed Lakers fans who expected the team to win the championship given a roster that almost looked like an All-Star Weekend Team.

Russell Westbrook's first season in LA was a disaster from the perspective of many, and it tainted his image. But NBA veterans came to his defense and called to stop the hate for the nine-time All-Star.

Russ Just Didn't Fit With the Lakers

Raja Bell, a seasoned NBA player, will not tolerate Westbrook's hatred. In a current Real Ones on The Ringer episode, Bell offered his perspective, per Fan Nation.

Bell said: "He didn't fit, I'm not saying that he did. I'm not saying that he should be a Laker, I'm not saying that he's the answer anywhere in particular. I'm simply saying, I just don't under this level of hate. Do you know how many dudes out there are inefficient, like c'mon bro, they're scattered across the landscape of the NBA, and don't nobody get the hate that that cat gets."

Bell claimed that Westbrook's statistics were "pretty much the same" as his past, which is correct based on shooting efficiency. His field goal percentage of 44.4 % and three-point percentage of 29.8 % were both somewhat higher than his career average (43.8 %). He doesn't see why Russel Westbrook "gets so much hate," particularly from the media, for this reason.

"I don't! Like I don't understand why he gets so much hate. Like real levels of vitriol hate. I hear the clowns talking about him on T.V. and the radio and [expletive], and I'm like, 'Yo, slow me down dog'".

Bell's views are shared by Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors, who competed alongside Russell Westbrook for Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics. On his podcast, "Point Forward," he supported Westbrook and said he doesn't see why the media keeps attacking him, calling him "Westbrick," a bastardization of Westbrook's name, as reported by Sportskeeda.

"I get pissed when they always have Russell Westbrook's news like 'This package went; they declined it. This team declined Russell Westbrook. This team declined Russell Westbrook.' ...What are you really trying to do to this man? What did he do to y'all? 'Cause, y'all just constantly keep doing this."

New Lakers Coach Has Plans for Westbrook

Meanwhile, New Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham expressed his desire to have Westbrook on the team for the 2022-23 season.

Ham spoke openly during Summer League about Westbrook and how he plans to nurture him for a future in Los Angeles, per a report from Fan Sided.

Coach Ham said: "Russ, in my opinion, he's in great shape, he's durable, and in this system - this four-out, one-in system - he's gonna have a chance to screen and roll and make plays in the half-roll. He's gonna have a chance to run on the break, slash, and get layups. He's gonna have a chance to spring out to the corner, flatten the defense, get corner threes. As well as the things that he already does well in terms of getting the ball and pushing the pace and pushing the tempo. I'm excited as hell to have Russell Westbrook on our team."

Tags

NBA, Russell westbrook, Los angeles lakers