The New Orleans Pelicans took a shot at LeBron James and Russell Westbrook on Twitter.
While the New Orleans Pelicans players seem to like each other, the same thing cannot be said for Los Angeles Lakers teammates LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.
An NBA fan took a screenshot of the Lakers’ Twitter header and compared it to the Pelicans’. While it is cool and all that the Lakers’ showcases all of their championship banners, the Pelicans’ shows its players sitting next to each other and having fun while taking in NBA Summer League action.
The Pelicans’ official Twitter account would quote tweet the screenshot the NBA fan took with, “Yes, our players enjoy sitting next to each other rather than on opposite ends of the court.”
This is a direct shot at the Lakers, as James and Westbrook sat on opposite sides of the Thomas & Mack Center during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
How much should we read into this? Are the Pelicans going to be better than the Lakers again?
New Orleans Pelicans troll LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers
New Orleans has an interesting history with Los Angeles. While both teams famously agreed to the deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers, they nearly orchestrated another blockbuster trade years prior. Unfortunately for the Lakers, the NBA intervened and had Chris Paul going to the Los Angeles Clippers instead. While Davis won a title in the bubble, the Pelicans are better now.
Even if Zion Williamson did not play a single minute for them a season ago, the Pelicans seemed to be having a blast playing with each other as last year’s No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Brandon Ingram is becoming the star the Lakers knew he always could be when they drafted him. Trading for CJ McCollum was a massive boost to New Orleans’ backcourt in the second half as well.
Look. Even if the James and Westbrook partnership has not worked out at all, the Lakers have no choice but to soldier on and try to make it work for one more season. Westbrook is still under contract and the best players on the Lakers are not getting any younger. If James is healthier this season, Los Angeles may have another deep playoff run in them. Their best days are behind them.
While the future looks bright in New Orleans, the same thing cannot be said over in Los Angeles.