LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Things didn’t go as planned for Russell Westbrook in his Lakers debut, but LeBron James has full faith he can turn things around.
To say Russell Westbrook had a game to forget going up against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night would be putting it lightly. In his Los Angeles Lakers debut, Westbrook really disappointed and fans couldn’t believe it.
In the 121-114 loss to Stephen Curry and Co., Westbrook finished with 8 points, 5rebounds and 4 assists. He shot 4-of-13 from the floor, going 0-for-4 from 3-point land. You could tell how upset he was with his performance, which is why LeBron James didn’t waste a second in trying to lift his spirits.
LeBron James showed veteran leadership is giving Russell Westbrook words of advice
This is a wise move from James. For him to basically tell Westbrook to go home and flush this performance was 100 percent the right move. It was only his first game with Los Angeles. Westbrook is simply too good of a player to let a rough debut have a negative impact on him the rest of the season.
With that said, he truly didn’t deliver in the way so many LA supporters thought he would on Opening Night. The Lakers had a golden opportunity to send a statement with a strong win over the Warriors, but the team was out of sync in the loss.
James did what was expected of him, scoring 34 points and adding 11 rebounds. Anthony Davis also turned heads with his 33 points and 11 boards, but no other Laker scored in double figures against Golden State.
That’s simply not going to cut it. Westbrook will have the chance to bounce back and put on a show on Friday night with the Lakers hosting the Phoenix Suns.