The Sacramento Kings finally signed Russell Westbrook to a deal before the season, but there is still discussion about why the former MVP went so long without a roster spot. Westbrook’s value has taken a hit in recent years after his controversial stint with the Los Angeles Lakers damaged his reputation.
Patrick Beverley, once a rival of Westbrook, is now speaking positively about him. On The Pat Bev Pod, Beverley said that Westbrook taking a smaller role on the Lakers and trying to be a team player for the betterment of the franchise ended up hurting his career more than anything else.
“Russ got a bad take because of that Lakers team,” Beverley said. “That’s the truth, bro. Ever since Russ left the Lakers, bro, he’s been on a minimum. We’ve never seen this ever. We’ve never seen a player who’s been the MVP, who’s impacted the game—who they call him names and tell him that he can’t shoot.”
Westbrook’s struggles to fit alongside fellow stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis caused the Lakers experiment to fail badly. The team fell from a top title contender to a play-in squad during Westbrook’s tenure before he left and continued taking secondary roles elsewhere.
Russell Westbrook Pigeonholed As Sixth Man
Westbrook’s reputation was still strong before the Lakers trade changed everything. He averaged a triple-double of 22.2 points, 11.7 assists, and 11.5 rebounds during his season with the Washington Wizards before the trade. LeBron reportedly wanted another big name on the roster and pushed for the infamous Westbrook trade.
Beverley continued to criticize the Lakers, saying they caused Westbrook to be viewed as a bench player across the league.
“He’s been a sixth man ever since he’s left the Lakers. He’s a starting point guard in the NBA. He’s arguably one of the top three point guards to ever play the game. If you talk to anyone around the league, Russell is the best teammate I ever have.”
Westbrook has long been known as a hard worker who leaves everything on the floor. His playing style has always been polarizing, but Beverley is right about one thing. Westbrook’s Lakers tenure changed how he’s perceived from a star point guard to a sixth man struggling to find his place.
Sacramento May Start Russell Westbrook
Westbrook will get a fresh start with the Kings after Sacramento finally signed him following months of offseason rumors. The Kings feature a unique roster with Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine clearly projected to start if all are healthy. The point guard spot remains the only open position as one that Westbrook could easily claim.
Dennis Schroder, Malik Monk, and Westbrook will all have strong cases to start in that role. Monk has thrived in the Kings’ offense for years, while Schroder has impressed as a spark off the bench for several recent teams. If Westbrook performs well, he could take advantage of this dynamic and secure the starting job.
The Kings lost De’Aaron Fox last season, creating a major void and lowering the team’s ceiling. Sacramento isn’t expected to contend for a title, but the roster is talented enough to compete for a late play-in spot. Westbrook now has the opportunity to restore his reputation and validate Beverley’s defense of him by helping the Kings win.
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