Iman Shumpert's bold Intake on Russell Westbrook's Time In LA

Published October 14, 2023 at 11:34 PM
BY SOLOMON MCDOWELL

Lakers' Westbrook Era

In the not-so-distant past, the Los Angeles Lakers found themselves in a tough spot after acquiring Russell Westbrook in the summer of 2021. With high expectations of an NBA championship run, they fell short by missing the play-in tournament in the 2021-22 season. Blame was quickly placed on Westbrook.

Westbrook was an easy target due to his aggressive playing style and outspoken personality. The criticism seemed to take a toll on him emotionally. However, some argue that Westbrook wasn't entirely to blame for the Lakers' struggles, at least on a personal level.

Iman Shumpert's Insights

Iman Shumpert, a former teammate of LeBron James, weighed in on why Westbrook didn't quite fit in (Lakers Daily).

"Bro, he didn't join this team to be super efficient with just 20 percent touches," Shumpert explained. "Efficiency has never been his calling card. He plays with heart. With Bron and them, they needed to play at a different pace. Bron controls the tempo, pushes when he wants. Russ excels in broken plays. A rebound happens, and you have to deal with him coming full speed, ready to receive the ball. That's his game, and that's what makes him a nightmare."

The Efficiency Dilemma

On the Lakers, Westbrook needed to adapt his game, become effective without the ball, both in transition and half-court situations. Unfortunately, he struggled to do so. Instead, he often dominated the ball, while James needed to be more off-ball. This lack of flexibility, combined with Westbrook's turnovers and inconsistent outside shooting, contributed to the Lakers' struggles.

A Game-Changing Trade

In the end, the Lakers traded Westbrook for D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, alongside little-used players Damian Jones and Juan Toscano-Anderson, and some draft assets. This move turned things around and positioned the Lakers as a serious championship contender by March.

The Lakers' win percentage improved by 15% after trading Westbrook. Westbrook's turnovers per game were among the highest in the league.

USA today

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October 14 \| 61 answers Iman Shumpert's bold Intake on Russell Westbrook's Time In LA Who Was the Biggest Lakers Game Changer?
Russell Westbrook	19	31.1 %
D'Angelo Russell	42	68.9 %
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