Lakers’ Russell Westbrook on Frank Vogel Relationship: ‘We Never In spite of every thing Linked’

The relationship between Russell Westbrook and Frank Vogel by no diagram worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers in the level guard’s eyes.

“We by no diagram genuinely connected,” Westbrook told journalists Monday after the Lakers announced they parted ways with Vogel as the head coach. “From the collect-tear, I used to be feeling I needed to existing myself to him.”

Westbrook additionally acknowledged of Vogel, “I am now not particular what his field used to be with me.”

If there used to be an field for Vogel, it will had been rooted in Westbrook’s play.

While the 9-time All-Necessary individual is a future Corridor of Famer and worn league MVP, he didn’t behold the section in his first season with the Lakers. It used to be an ungainly fit from the open with LeBron James since they’re both so ball-dominant, and his shooting struggles persevered as he hit 29.8 percent of his triples.

His 18.5 sides per game used to be his lowest model since his second season in the league in 2009-10, and he posted a occupation-worst 15.0 participant effectivity rating, per Basketball Reference.

It fleet grew to changed into positive that the supposed Immense Three of James, Westbrook and Anthony Davis wasn’t going to dominate the league, especially since the UCLA product couldn’t continuously hit from the initiate air and purchase income of the spacing created by enjoying alongside the change two. Likewise, the trio performed supreme 21 games collectively this season because numerous injuries to James and Davis.

It’s now not mighty to study the Lakers’ season unfolding in a selected direction in the event that they obtained DeMar DeRozan or Buddy Hield this previous offseason as another, but ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne (h/t RealGM) now not too long previously reported “enthusiasm” for Westbrook from James and Davis drove Los Angeles to alternate for him.

It reached a level the place Vogel benched Westbrook in fourth quarters and crunch time more than one times all the diagram by technique of the season.

Perchance that didn’t sit down smartly with the 33-365 days-worn, and Monday’s feedback counsel he believes the gentle head coach who helped the Lakers preserve the championship at some level of the 2019-20 campaign used to be now not his supreme fan.

One amongst the supreme questions referring to the offseason is the place Westbrook will play in 2022-23 since he has a participant option. While he will seemingly opt into it fascinated about it is predicament to pay him $47.1 million subsequent season, the Lakers would possibly behold to switch him after they struggled on the methodology to a 33-49 file.

James discussed Westbrook’s future at some level of a Monday press convention and told journalists, “I am now not right here to gain decisions for the entrance keep of commercial and that nature. However I cherished being teammates with Russ.”

Westbrook can possess a selected coach subsequent season if he does return, which interestingly is per chance now not a verbalize in his eyes.