Shannon Sharpe gives his view on what this Lakers player will feel after hearing this statement about LeBron James from coach Ham.
The new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Darvin Ham, has made it clear that he wants LeBron James with the ball every time. He believes that LeBron is their best playmaker, which is why he’ll be running the plays as he has done throughout his career.
This would mean a lesser role for Russell Westbrook. He is known for playing with the ball, and without the ball, he isn’t very active. Maybe Darvin Ham has different plans to use Westbrook.
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe gave his views on Westbrook after those comments by coach Ham. He said, “He ain’t gonna be happy that’s what he beats for him. Whatever role you thought you had last year is going to be diminished this year.”
He added, “Darvin Ham already told you what he wanted you to do, I want you to focus on the defensive end and playing off the ball, I’m going to need you to dive I’m going to need you to cut, I’m going to need you to do other things other than have the ball in your hand because I trust Lebron James more than I trust you I trust that he’s going to shoot the ball when he needs to shoot it I trust he’s going to get his other teammates involved when he needs to get those guys involved.”
Shannon Sharpe believes LeBron James’ role will make Westbrook more unhappy
With LeBron James being given the keys to run the offense, it is likely to upset Westbrook. Shannon Sharpe also believes the same as he thinks Westbrook would have preferred to have the ball in his hand.
Shannon further said, “So in other words Russ whatever you want thought your role might be it’s going to be less than that whatever your role was last year is going to be less than that and if you can’t get in line with what coach Ham wants you’re going to find yourself coming off the bench and you’re not going to be too happy with that because you’re unhappy with your role last year I think he’s going to be even more unhappy with his role this year.”
Shannon Sharpe later compared the situation of Westbrook with Dwayne Wade. When LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat, Wade’s role for the team got reduced. It was because LeBron was a better player than him. Similarly, Westbrook should also look at that, and change his game to help the team.
Shannon Sharpe said, “If Russ could shoot the ball D-Wade found a way to still be D-Wade without the ball in his hands because he was willing to dive he was willing to cut.”
He added, “Russell Westbrook like if he ain’t got the ball in his hand he just want to stand out there and look around hey practically let me jack up one of these the 29 three-point shots I got for you, no no that’s not gonna happen so it looks to me Russ is going to find himself in the six-man roll because I don’t think he’s going to take too kindly…”
Russell Westbrook will be required to make sacrifices
If Westbrook wants to play as a Laker next season, he will be required to make a lot of sacrifices. He needs to get better at the defensive end and learn how to play off the ball.
Maybe coach Darvin Ham will bring the best out of him. The trio of LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Anthony Davis can work well together, but all three of them need to stay healthy and make sacrifices to make others better.
Even if this team’s roster doesn’t improve massively by the start of the season, they still have three sure-shot Hall of Famers on their team. All three of them are match winners. If the Lakers are able to make this work, it would be a very great story. Westbrook had a terrible season last year, and he will be motivated to prove all his doubters wrong.
Read More:
- “Not with this style of play” – Kobe Bryant correctly predicted that James Harden and the Rockets would not win a title
- “I don’t think KD wants to play with LeBron James” – Shannon Sharpe doesn’t believe huge trade involving Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving will happen
- “James Harden looked in the mirror and said, ‘I am no longer a top 20 player’” – Colin Cowherd suggests The Beard is the most underappreciated athlete in America this week
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