Google News Lakers governor Jeanie Buss praises Russell Westbrook
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Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss offered some public support for Russell Westbrook as she described him as their "most consistent player" of last season. Last season, Westbrook missed all but four games for the Lakers.
On the other side, LeBron James and Anthony Davis struggled with injuries and missed far more time. After averaging a triple-double for the Washington Wizards a season earlier, Westbrook only averaged points in double digits in his first year in Los Angeles.
In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Buss said she would liked to see more of Westbrook, James and Davis together on the floor. “All I can say is that, from my point of view, [Westbrook] was our best player last year.
He played pretty much every single game, showed up, worked hard,” she said. “You know, I would have loved to have seen what this team would have looked like if they stayed healthy. It’s really tough to win when Anthony Davis isn’t on the court.
LeBron [James] was hurt a lot of the season. But Russ showed up every game and played hard every night. And, you know, I just really appreciate him for who he is and what he brings to the team”.
Buss called Westbrook the Lakers' most consistent player
After Amick initially reported that Buss said Westbrook was their best player last season, Buss clarified herself and said that she meant the most consistent player.
“The word I should have used was ‘consistent.’ He played 78 games last season,” Buss clarified herself later in a text message to Amick. This offseason, the Lakers fired Frank Vogel and hird Darvin Ham as their head coach.
When Ham was asked about Westbrook, he said he was "wounted out prematurely." “Counted out. Prematurely. I’ve had some great interactions with Russ, in person, over dinner, over the phone, over text messages. I love Russell Westbrook, man.
Just his mentality, his approach. Just to see him, a guy of that magnitude and everything he’s done in the league to get hated on. But being me, I got a wholehearted plan, a clear plan on how I’m going to use him.
I showed it to him, sat down, brought stuff up for him. I think he’s going to flourish. We ain’t going to try to curtail his energy. We’re just going to diversify it, redirect it." The Lakers have been apparently trying to trade Westbrook throughout the offseason but they haven't been able to find a trade partner.