Russell Westbrook has clarified the viral clip of him not huddling with his Los Angeles Lakers teammates in their latest preseason game.
Russell Westbrook has come out and addressed the rumors about the first cracks starting to show in the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the new season, after a recent clip featuring him and rival turned-teammate Patrick Beverley went viral. The NBA veteran was seen to have ignored Beverley’s calls for a defensive huddle repeatedly before eventually joining the rest of the team.
The clip from the recent preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves went viral, as it featured Beverley – one or the best defensive players in the league and already a defensive leader for the Lakers – call for a defensive huddle. While the rest of the team joined him, Westbrook was nowhere to be seen despite repeatedly asked to join.
Upon Beverley repeatedly summoning Westbrook to join the huddle, the veteran eventually joined the rest of his team. Another clip surfaced from before the preseason game, where Westbrook is seen greeting teammates near the foul line during player introductions and then running to the bench alone, while the Lakers huddled up.
The clips did not go down well amongst Lakers fans on social media who felt that their fears were coming true – after the discourse about Westbrook and Beverley not being able to be the best of teammates after sharing a decade long rivalry. However, Westbrook defended himself to the press when being asked about the clips.
Westbrook used the chance to defend himself by providing context to the situation.
When asked about the pre-game clip, Russ told ESPN: “It’s really weird man. pregame, I’ve been doing that since I’ve been in the league for years man… I think they just cut the video and obviously the internet is going to take it and run with whatever they need to run with. But, I’ve been doing the same ritual since I’ve been in the league.”
When asked about the clip of the huddle, Russ said: “As far as the other video, I was talking to the coaches about a missed coverage. So, I don’t pay no mind to it, man.”