Russell Westbrook and LeBron James’ time as Los Angeles Lakers teammates was anything but smooth, according to new revelations from Yaron Weitzman’s book A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers, per Bleacher Report.
In excerpts published by The Ringer, Weitzman detailed several tense moments between the two stars during their short-lived partnership in Los Angeles. One of those moments, centered around actor Will Smith’s visit to the team’s facility, reportedly became a turning point for Westbrook’s perception of James, The Ringer reports.
The Lakers were 0–3 when general manager Rob Pelinka invited Smith to speak as part of the team’s “Genius Series,” a motivational initiative featuring high-profile guests. Before Smith entered the room, James and Anthony Davis abruptly walked out, leaving their teammates confused. “We’re like, ‘Yo, what’s going on?’” one player recalled.
When Smith finally began his talk, James reappeared, suddenly engaging the actor in an extended conversation. He asked question after question, turning what was meant to be a brief session into nearly an hour-long discussion. The sudden shift didn’t sit well with Westbrook, who reportedly muttered to a teammate afterward, “I hate that fake s***. I just can’t do it.”
Westbrook Grew Frustrated With LeBron’s Persona
Weitzman’s book suggested that Westbrook had grown increasingly skeptical of James’ authenticity during their time together. “He’d seen all the examples of LeBron seemingly misrepresenting himself,” Weitzman wrote, referencing moments when James appeared to exaggerate or perform for the cameras.
Those moments included when James claimed The Godfather was his favorite movie but couldn’t name a single line when asked, or when he carried The Autobiography of Malcolm X to a media session and stumbled when pressed about takeaways. Another incident involved James’ viral claim that he predicted Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game before it happened.
To Westbrook, the Smith interaction was just another example. “The same guy who was trying to leave is now quoting back movie lines and going through the guy’s whole life story,” one player recalled, echoing Westbrook’s frustration.
Fallout and a Short-Lived Partnership
The Lakers’ disappointing start and inconsistent chemistry led to ongoing tension throughout the season. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin later reported that when Westbrook was traded in February 2023, one team source compared it to “removing a vampire from the locker room.”
Westbrook’s on-court struggles only amplified the disconnect. He missed all 11 of his shot attempts in the Lakers’ home opener against the Clippers and made several questionable late-game decisions in subsequent losses. James appeared frustrated in those moments, even as he publicly refused to criticize his teammate. “You guys can write about Russ,” James said at one postgame press conference. “I’m not up here to do that. That’s not who I am.”
Westbrook, however, didn’t see it that way. “People are saying, ‘Let Russ be Russ,’” he said during that stretch. “I think nobody understands what that means.” When asked about James’ comments months later, Westbrook added, “That wasn’t true. So let’s be honest.”
Weitzman’s reporting indicates that Westbrook believed James often said one thing publicly and did another privately. Even fellow athletes joked about James’ reputation for embellishment, as seen when NFL star Jalen Ramsey told him during an episode of The Shop, “They say you be cappin’.”
Similar Claims Have Since Surfaced
Comedian Michael Rapaport echoed that sentiment in a recent VladTV interview, saying an unnamed NBA player once described James as “the fakest player in the league.” Rapaport said the comment came out like a confession, adding, “When he said it, it felt like a therapy moment.”
LeBron James remains one of the NBA’s most scrutinized figures, and his partnership with Westbrook stands as one of the most polarizing experiments of his career. While both players have since moved on, Weitzman’s book sheds light on why their brief time together became defined as much by tension as by basketball.
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