Russell Westbrook's homecoming hasn't gone as planned for the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
The star guard has struggled next to LeBron James, and he has been the focus of constant criticism as the Lakers failed to live up to their lofty preseason expectations. But Warriors star Steph Curry made sure to support Westbrook on Saturday when Golden State faced the Lakers in Los Angeles.
"I told him when we played them in L.A. a couple of days ago that I respect how he’s handled the whole year, just in terms of everything he’s been saying and how he’s been handling himself and protecting his family," Curry told Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. "It is the nature of the beast. And in a certain perspective, they build you up to break you down. The real ones who have done amazing things in this league know what that means. He’s a professional, and I’m proud of the way he’s conducting himself, and I’m there for him."
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Westbrook has heard chants of "Westbrick" at Crypto.com Arena, and his wife, Nina, said the family received death threats on social media. Westbrook told the media the hostility toward him has reached a point where he doesn't want his family to attend games.
“The fan perspective, it is kind of B.S. when it crosses the line in terms of attacking somebody personally, their name, and not keeping it to just basketball,” Curry told Haynes. “That’s why we’re all here is because of basketball. But at the end of the day, you have to do what you have to do to speak up for yourself and also understand that the guys that know what’s going on in this league respect the type of player he is. Russ definitely has my support.”
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With 17 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers are nine games under .500 and are destined to be in the play-in tournament.
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With James, Westbrook and a healthy Anthony Davis, who is expected to return from his mid-foot sprain in a few weeks, the Lakers have enough talent to scare the West's top teams. But dreams of an NBA title likely are dead, and all signs point to Westbrook's time in Purple and Gold being one-and-done.