Lakers head coach Darvin Ham and Russell Westbrook ‘got into a HEATED locker room exchange after struggling guard spent time on court after being subbed out in loss to Thunder’
While Crypto.com Arena focused on LeBron James and his pursuit of surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record, Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham and point guard Russell Westbrook reportedly had a heated discussion in the locker room on halftime of Tuesday’s loss to Oklahoma City.
As sources told ESPN, Ham was frustrated with Westbrook for taking so long on the court after being subbed out in the second quarter. The discussion turned into a shouting match before the locker room returned its focus to the game at hand, according to ESPN sources.
Ham still finished the game with Westbrook on the floor. The former UCLA star had 14 of his 27 points in the frame, and was later seen giving a fist bump to the Lakers’ first-year head coach.
Regardless, the Lakers still lost to the Thunder, 133-130, as James passed Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA’s All-Time scoring list.
‘This [stinks] we didn’t get the win on a night like this, but there’s a lot of things to pull from it, a lot of things to take away,’ Ham told reporters.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham and point guard Russell Westbrook reportedly had a heated discussion in the locker room at halftime of Tuesday’s loss to Oklahoma City
Westbrook finished with 27 points, eight assists and six costly turnovers.
The former MVP has struggled since his 2021 trade from Washington to Los Angeles.
His shooting percentage has dropped to just 41.7 this season, which is his worst since his rookie season in 2008-09 with Oklahoma City.
He also struggled at the free-throw line, making just 65.5 percent of his attempts despite posting a 77.9-percent clip for his career.
The Lakers are currently just 25-30 and sitting in 13th place in the West before Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline.
Westbrook was mentioned in trade rumors involving Kyrie Irving until the Brooklyn Nets decided to ship the disgruntled guard to Dallas this week.
James is advocating for Irving’s hiring.
‘I can’t sit here and say I’m not disappointed that I didn’t get that talent,’ James told ESPN on Monday. ‘But [also] someone I’ve had great chemistry with and I know I’ve got great chemistry on the floor, which can help you win championships, in my mind, in my eyes.’
James said today that he is focused on winning with the current Lakers.
‘But my focus has shifted now,’ he told ESPN. ‘My focus is back on where it should be and that is the club now and what we have in the locker room.’
Head coach Darvin Ham talks to Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers November 30, 2022 at Crypto.Com
