Why Russell Westbrook Failed With The Lakers

When you look at Russell Westbrook’s career its hard not to be impressed.

So when the Los Angeles Lakers made a blockbuster trade to get Brodie everyone in the world instantly put the team into championship contention.

​​But we are more than 50 games into the season the The Los Angeles Lakers are playing like trash.

I dug into his numbers, team statistics, advanced player metrics and game footage to find out what's wrong with Russell Westbrook

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[Arkane]

If you look at all the dunk highlights of Russ when he was with OKC and with Lakers, you’ll see that his head at or slightly above the rim in OKC but way below the rim with Lakers. He can’t jump as high anymore. His game was dependent on his athleticism. Although he is still very athletic, he is no longer elite…

[nickgilmer]

I almost laughed when he said that everyone thought Westbrook to LA was a good move. We saw this coming MILES away

[solascriptura-et]

I would contrast Russell Westbrook's LACK of a basketball IQ, to Vince Carter.
They both were dynamic in their early days; but, as Vince got older, he remodeled and retooled his game, to still be effective, well into his twentieth season.

[vintagedrugrug]

The biggest issue for me with Russ is that hes been this way so long he has no desire to change, he feels his game is perfect the way it is but you can tell his body is starting to fall apart of him and he's trying to supplement those drives to the rim he used to do with ease for 20 foot jumpers off the glass that he doesn't have the touch to make on a consistent basis

[guscostakispaoadopoulos]

The greatest flaw in the RW saga in addition to everything you so methodically pointed out, is that he is clueless and in total denial to what's going on in terms of his declining game. Not only does he not see how detrimental he is to the Lakers and his teammates; however he's not doing anything necessary to remedy his game. Especially when you are playing with the current GOAT of the NBA. One more thing, no matter how off your shot is, there's absolutely no excuse for a 44 million dollar man not to rotate defensively, and being extremely complacent in transition.

[marcfrancismanalac]

Spot on brother I don't blame russ i blame who recruit russ because you have 14 years of evidence on how he plays its impossible that lakers don't have scouting reports. The diffence between regular season and playoffs you need cerebral player look at rondo not great by the numbers but their impact don't show on the stats sheet. Rondo is not a great shooter not athletic but he is a big piece to lakers 2020 championship runs

[unknowninformant]

I’m so confused as to how Russell regressed in terms of shooting. Am I the only person who remembers when he had silky midrange jumpshot, especially from the elbow? I also remember he was a solid ft shooter? Feels like a fever dream

[ericyeh]

He cannot transfer the same psychology mind he has in OKC to LA. He is used to the rhythm and the tempo and momentum in OKC and KD always alleviate the pressure for him when he can pass around to KD and KD always make the score and when KD left, everyone in OKC let RW take the rebound and unlock the fastbreak and that's the reason he got triple double season. He lost that kind of tempo and momentum and the surrounding teammates that let him grab rebounds and unlock the fastbreak in LA so he lost the feel and groove in in OKC he is in the mode just to attack because the team support him whereas in LA he has to facilitate and be more patient and strategic and not just purely attack and that's not the playing style RW is used to for past 10 years and therefore RW lost his handle of the ball feel and lost the game momentum and and simple

[Dodgers-swuk]

His stats are inflated beyond belief. He says “if it’s so easy why isn’t everyone doing it” . Well, the answer to that question is very simple. Other players aren’t selfish enough to do what he does. He doesn’t guard his man properly just so it will put him in position for a rebound. He lets the man he is guarding blow by him so he can try to get a block or rebound. Things like that. He also has a horrific fg% so I’m not at all impressed with his scoring. And I’m not impressed with his passing because of the turnovers and the quality of the assists he does get.

[idgafzero]

U made the best breakdown of russ is struggles .

[NoahMcCarthy]

There’s a side where triple doubles are used to help your team all over the court, and then there’s Russell’s side where it’s just stat padding. I’ve seen him play in OKC. He stole rebounds and tried to force passes almost every time down the court. He’s just not a good team player.

[ewa]

this is the problem when an athletic player was young and relies so much on athleticism vs relying on skills. Westbrook passes great when he has great legs, attack and kick, but passing off of skill and iq is different story. That is something what drose did later in his career. RW is still a great talent, I just hope ppl would losen up on bashing this man, he is one of the most respected players in the league.

I used to play athletic myself, I know how it feels when for so long playing bouncy you will need to rely on bball iq eventually.

[bsn]

Westbrook's decline as he ages is one of the most predictable things in the NBA. At his best, he was a great floor raiser for a team but because he's always been so hard headed and set in playing his own style, he basically sets a hard ceiling for how good his teams could be. He doesn't play in a way that works well with other great players. As he's lost some athleticism, it's really amplified his shortcomings as a player.

All that being said, you're right that it's not all Westbrook's fault. This is one of the most poorly constructed rosters in the league. Lebron can still play well enough to get them some wins. (Lebron probably pushed for the makeup of this team)

[EnZo]

I feel when Russ hears “play better” what comes to his mind is do everything I’ve already been doing but 100x harder

[JW-]

Russell Westbrook in February:
14 made baskets
14 turnovers
He is shooting 28/15/55% in that

[baruckobungoo]

Westbrook has always been this player, it just took playing for a big market for the whole world to see. I’ve been on russ ass for 5 years now and now everyone pouring on.

[fruittytuitty]

Dejounte Murray is averaging 19.8 pts 8.4 rebounds and 9.3 assists this season fyi

[christof]

Simple: Westbrook never developed a jump shot because he relied on athleticism.

[johnnyutah]

He is failing because in OKC the team facilitated him so he did not have to think, just attack. With Lakers, he is expected to facilitate as well as be Westbrook when needed. But he only knows how to do one of those two modes. Hence why he looks lost in every game this season.

[lowkeytrash]

I’m not gonna lie. The main struggles he’s had have BEEN there and I’m not excusing it. But for a dude that averaged a triple double 4 times and former MVP……I’m just gonna say that this was a horrible season and this was his humbling moment. I’m willing to bet he’ll be ALOT better next season.