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- Russell Westbrook’s first season in Los Angeles was a disappointment, to say the least.
- The Lakers finished 11th in the Western Conference and failed to qualify for the postseason.
- Westbrook said he “wasn’t given a fair chance” by head coach Frank Vogel.
With Frank Vogel now officially out as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, point guard Russell Westbrook has opened up about his first season playing under the NBA title-winning coach.
During his exit interview with the media on Monday, Westbrook seemed to place some blame on Vogel for his struggles this season, saying that his “ability… wasn’t given a fair chance.”
Russell Westbrook speaks out on his relationship with ex-Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel
“When I first got here, the ability to be able to do what I’m able to do for a team and an organization wasn’t given a fair chance,” Westbrook told reporters during his exit interview.
Westbrook also said that his relationship with Vogel is the first time that he’s ever had an “issue” with one of his coaches in the NBA
“I think it’s unfortunate, to be honest, because I’ve never had an issue with any of my coaches before. I’m not sure what his issue was with me or I’m not sure why, but I can’t really give you an answer to why we really never connected.”
During the 2021-22 season, Westbrook — who won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2016–17 season — averaged 18.5 points, which was his lowest scoring average since 2010-11.
Given the massive size of his contract — Westbrook is owed $47 million next season — it’s hard to imagine him playing anywhere else except Los Angeles next season. With LeBron set to turn 38-years-old during the course of next season, the clock is running out for him to add a fifth ring to his legacy.
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