Lakers guard Russell Westbrook “never respected” head coach Frank Vogel, a person with knowledge of the situation tells Dan Woike and Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times.
“The moment Frank said anybody who gets the rebound can bring it up the court, which is just how the NBA is played these days, Russ was like, ‘Naw, I’m the point guard. Give the ball to me. Everybody run,'” the source told Woike and Turner. “Frank was like, ‘No, we have Talen (Horton-Tucker). We have Austin (Reaves). We have Malik (Monk). We have LeBron (James). We have AD (Anthony Davis). They can all bring the ball up.’ He was like, ‘Nope, I’m the point guard. Give me that s–t. Everybody get out the way.’
“From that point on, in training camp, it was a wrap, ‘cause now Russ is a fish out of water. He doesn’t know what to do. That’s how that started.”
Both the Times’ report and an in-depth Insider-only story from Ramona Shelburne of ESPN paint Vogel as one of Westbrook’s bigger supporters, resisting pushes from staffers and players to pull him from the starting lineup as the season went on. According to Shelburne, there were people in the organization who felt that only “humiliation” would prompt Westbrook to change his playing style to better fit in, but Vogel wanted to stand by him and give him the chance to figure things out.
However, Shelburne hears from team insiders that – in addition to being a poor on-court fit – Westbrook wasn’t a good “personality fit” alongside a non-confrontational coach like Vogel and a passive-aggressive star like James.
According to Woike and Turner, some Lakers staffers began to wonder during the season if the club had made a big mistake by not re-signing Jared Dudley to be a “locker-room buffer” who could help integrate Westbrook. The team had also wanted to hire Westbrook’s former coach Scott Brooks as an assistant on Vogel’s staff, but didn’t have the spot or the money for him after giving Mike Penberthy a promotion and a raise to prevent Jason Kidd from poaching him for his staff in Dallas, says Shelburne.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Although Vogel appears likely to be replaced after the season is over, the front office leadership group – led by Rob Pelinka and Kurt Rambis – is expected to remain intact and in power going forward, sources tell Shelburne.
- The Lakers, who were unwilling to attach their 2027 first-round pick to Westbrook at the trade deadline to grease the wheels on a deal, appear similarly reluctant to waive him this offseason and stretch his $47MM salary across three seasons, reports Shelburne. Releasing Westbrook might appeal more to the team if he were willing to give up money in a buyout agreement, but sources close to the guard have expressed pessimism that he’ll do so, Shelburne writes.
- One reason the Lakers acquired Westbrook rather than DeMar DeRozan last summer was timing-related — the team was able to move on Westbrook around the draft since he was under contract, whereas working out a sign-and-trade for DeRozan would’ve meant waiting for free agency (and coming up with a package that the Spurs would accept). However, sources close to the situation say that James’ and Davis’ enthusiasm for Westbrook were a significant factor in L.A.’s shift in focus as well, per Shelburne.
If this is true and known. What NBA team will ever want Westbrook again?
With that contract? None…..he’ll be a laker next year still unless they give up picks to dump him.
He’ll be traded somewhere then bought out
But it will be interesting to see what team is interested, even at a mid-level type number.
Maybe Washington since he paired ok with Beal….
According to Washington players they were happy he was traded so I highly doubt they would even want him back unless its some assets too.
Westbrook will be a buyout or stretch provision. But I like what I read where the Lakers didn’t have the right dynamic structure in place. No matter how much potential, you need quality leadership, and selfless people willing to have those tough conversations as with any business or social structure to create a positive environment that overcomes adversity. So your critics of this team/ org, and former players who flip flop(Magic) have a lot to chew on here
“true & known” NOT— in this level of detail.
Certainly it was known that the was a fit problem, that was predicted by nearly all posters to this site who weighed in. But I don’t recall bringing the ball upcourt was the strikepoint.
The need for Dudley was debated, with some posters not seeing his merit and wanting him gone.
How to make playoffs if Westbrook is back?
Lakers fans
I would’ve absolutely hated playing with a clown like Westbrook were I an NBA player. Who would even want to roster this guy next season? Not even the Knicks should be that stupid. He’s not worth the headache with this attitude, extreme stubbornness, horrible shot selection, and ball hogging tendencies in what is no longer an elite player’s body. Frankly, he makes a guy like Randle look like a boy scout.
Let him be humbled or let him fall out of the league. His choice.
Probably the latter. Even if he wanted to change does he have the skillset to? Melo revived his career by working on his shooting.
But Melo was already a solid shooter. For Russ to reinvent himself in that way he’d need to improve leaps and bounds from where he is now
I think he could still be useful in a microwave bench scorer sort of role even without the shooting, but his days as a viable starter are done imo. And that’s only, of course, if he buys into the idea in the first place. I wouldn’t bet on it.
He could focus on rebounding, a strength. And defense.
(laughable rn)
An actual journalist would give the knife victim a chance to respond. But court stenographer Ramona Shelburne can be counted on to stick the knife into Russ in exchange for access.
.
What difference would a response have made?— RW would just deny it.
Maybe you mean not run the article at all— but there is nothing to save, even if the instinct to help the team is there. Which, is unlikely and not what journalism is for.
Russell Westbrick: No comment.
Russ’s response “Do you think I did that? DO YOU?!… DO YOU?!?!?!?” then stares at the reporter for 30+ seconds until he bullies his way off the podium… happened multiple times this year.
I’m glad she doesn’t meet your definition of one, then.
She’s made her claim. There’s nothing more to it than that unless Westbrook wants to deny it though the media.
Of course, if we’re putting bets down, I’d bet she’s telling the truth. It’s entirely consistent with his character and demeanor.
Hard for me to believe that the Lakers, one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, could not afford to hire Scott Brooks as an assistant coach in order to keep Mike Penberthy. There’s no salary cap on coaches. They could’ve paid for him if they’d wanted to and not been cheapskates.
The Lakers should also be over the cap like the Warriors and they are not. My Celtics better go over next year or they will hear it from us Fans!
Not only that but Brooks would’ve been a good replacement for Vogel halfway through the season when the Lakers should’ve made a coaching change.
Should’ve relegated him to 6th man duty right then and there. Can’t let the inmates run the asylum, especially with LeBron already deservedly being the main voice of the franchise
Magic Johnson was right, Rob Pelinka is the problem.
The franchise is the problem.. the owners are at each other’s throats.. the front office hasn’t been stable in 15 years… the roster sucks because of player interference, and they hired the wrong coach for the ego’s of the team…. when Lebron is gone, the Lakers will be lotto bound again just like the Cavs.. meanwhile the Heat are #1 in the east.. think on that.
Thankfully they weren’t when he left South Beach, keep making history up!
BTW all the teams were delighted he left them at the bottom, after making them all champs… MIA no rings without him & none to come for the next multiple years, so what is your point?
I don’t count the 2020 season as a true championship. You can’t play a half a season, take 6 mos off, and then play a tournament. That defeats the idea behind having teams grind out the 82 games and see who’s still built strong enough for the playoffs. With that said Lebron has come to LA,missed the playoffs 2/4 years and has first round KO another year. I get he’s an all time great but he’s clearly struggled playing outside the East.
Trash 2020 just to trash Lebron. Quite the reach.
Take a shot at Dudley?
Also, Miami won a championship 4 years prior to Lebron showing up
That “franchise” has won more championships this century than any team
Odd use of the word dysfunctional
Don’t be naive captain. Shaq/Kobe, Phil Jackson/Jerry West, Jeanie and her siblings, LeBron vs. everybody. I think it’s safe to say this franchise has had some dysfunction over the past 20 years. Six championships show they’re still the Lakers but it ain’t always sunny in El Segundo.
I’d be more surprised if Shelburne was leaking that Russ respected Vogel.
Clearly he wasn’t doing anything they wanted him to do all year, which ironically hurt Russ as much as it hurt the team.
Having said that, if LAL wants to go all-in on lighting a torch to future assets, Russ’s expiring plus their 2 future firsts will have real value to teams looking to cut money and promptly buy Russ out.
The better question is when Russ clears waivers will anyone still have interest in him as a player?
On a vet minimum, sure. He still gives you double digit points and high single digit assists. Can still play a little defense. And on a minimum contract he’s easy to just cut if he acts like an a-hole again.
I only see him worth a vet minimum,maximum 6-7 million.
They always talk about two scenarios:
– he picks up his option and gives up money to get bought out with salary stretched over 3 years
– he picks up his option and is traded
Why is there no 3rd option with the best of both?
– he doesnt pick up his 47 million option
– he signs a 5 year, 60 million, contract withe the lakers and then gets traded for a lower yearly salary of 12 million to the team he wants.
Could be perfect for the lakers, but I guess his ego is too big and he considers himself worth more than 13 million for his last 4 seasons… and off course he needs to work longer for those 47 million…
Financially there’s no incentive to do that for him, though. The worst case scenario for Russ is he’s traded somewhere he doesn’t want, collects his 47m and is free after a year at most. His big win is if LA cuts him, he still gets his 47m, adds some money on top from another place of his choosing.
I’d actually say Russ probably isn’t even worth 13m. Maybe 10m to a bad team to sell tickets. I can’t imagine both he and his agent wouldn’t realize they give up that 47m, he spends the rest of his career trying to get it back.
Giving Westbrook the ball and getting out of the way is the only way Westbrook can be effective. The problem that is the best way to use Westbrook but LeBron arguably has the best court vision of any player in the history of the game so you certainly can’t take the ball out of his hands.
which is why a smart roster build around Lebron is a bunch of shooters and a big…. but apparently the Lakers thought they knew better.
So did LeBron. Both have fault here, and it was extremely obvious from the start.
Yeah tough to get mad at the lakers front office when it’s wildly known Lebron calls the shots on roster decisions. The fault lies with him and the front office
If it was truly Lebron’s idea to bring Westbrook home to LA, it’s reasonable to say he should have played a bigger role in making him see the bigger picture where the idea of “team” was concerned. As is, Vogel will likely pay the price because Westbrook was a malcontent. Would wonder what influence he had on his teammates’ psyche
Lakers desperately need to move off Russ and try keep the bad media attention away
They also need to be a winner. The Hornet deal framework is interesting… Some other team with a longer window should have to write off RW if necessary. But they could also work it out with attitude change on RW’s part.
This article should have happened earlier!
Westbrook just another Swing and Miss by GM BRON BRON
Where are all those laker and lebron fans that attacked me over and over on here when I said the lakers were going to implode because of injuries and poor fits? Where you all at … those posts are still on here lol
Westbrook will be traded in 3 or 4 team expanded deal… lakers could get serviceable veterans back on long term contracts, they will have to part with 2 1st round draft picks, THT, NUNN….
A $5.4 billion franchise didn’t have the money to hire a coach? For real?
Game 5 of the nba championship. Frank is at the free-throw line to determine the winner……..
Folks, We break this story to give you more details of the LA Lakers.
A Laker that ate a buffet is unhappy because some peas found its way into the chocolate pudding. Stephen A Smith is up next to give his opinion.
That’s the worst, I hate peas!
To think Jared Dudley was the difference in this team’s season… oh my
We all know that this story is a lie, all the anonymous tips are, if you are telling the truth you wanna attach your name to it, right?
So unless someone gets his name to it, there is no way that this ridiculous story is true, I mean it sounds so silly that no even kindergarten kids would believe it, no hoops fans would ever in a million years, that is for sure!
EZ decision, Mr Westbrook.
You are “ONLY” a player, not the Head Coach.
The Head Coach calls the shots.
You play the way he tells you to play.
If it doesn’t work,
He won’t be the Head Coach for long.
But you will still have a job and
get paid a Kings ransom for PLAYING A GAME!
Sweet Haiku