Patrick Beverley believes Russell Westbrook became the scapegoat for everything that went wrong during the Los Angeles Lakers’ disappointing 2022-23 season. Appearing on the ‘Unguarded’ podcast, Beverley reflected on his lone season with the Lakers and admitted the constant lineup changes and lack of continuity made it difficult for everyone involved.
More importantly, he felt Westbrook unfairly absorbed nearly all of the criticism despite the team’s broader issues.
“I think the biggest thing I took away from leaving the Lakers was learning how to get superstars to really buy in. Forget him and Russ. Forget what they had or didn’t have. What could I have done better to make sure that, regardless of the relationships, we found a way to win games? It was hard.”
“You had a first-year coach in Darvin Ham. You had me starting. This was my first time seeing Russ since people said I injured him in OKC. So I’m coming in thinking, ‘Okay, what’s going on?’ Now I’m starting. Russ is on the bench. AR is starting. Bron is starting. Anthony Davis is starting.”
“Okay, cool. Then all of a sudden, Lonnie Walker is starting. I’m thinking, ‘This doesn’t work.’ It didn’t even feel right on the basketball court. Then Dennis Schröder, who should’ve been coming off the bench that year, was starting because he was Darvin Ham’s guy. And the only person taking all the punches through everything was Russ.”
Westbrook’s Lakers tenure remains one of the most debated chapters of his Hall of Fame career.
After the Lakers missed the playoffs in 2021-22, many expected improvements the following season. Instead, the team struggled to find consistency through the first half of the year. By the February 9 trade deadline, Los Angeles owned a disappointing 25-31 record, prompting Rob Pelinka to completely reshape the roster.
Westbrook was dealt in a three-team trade that brought back D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley. The moves transformed the Lakers almost immediately.
Following the deadline, Los Angeles finished the regular season 18-8, earning a playoff berth after spending much of the season below .500. That turnaround, along with a surprise run to the Western Conference Finals, fueled the narrative that moving Westbrook had solved the Lakers’ problems.
Beverley clearly sees things differently. Westbrook accepted a sixth-man role early in the season despite being one of the most accomplished players in NBA history. He appeared in 52 games before the trade, starting only three of them while averaging 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists. But for a player making $47.1 million that season, those were pretty underwhelming numbers.
Although his production dipped from his MVP-level years, he still provided playmaking and energy while embracing a reduced role. Beverley argued the problems extended well beyond one player. Injuries, inconsistent rotations, a first-year coaching staff, and constant lineup experimentation all contributed to the Lakers’ slow start.
Whether fans agree or not, Beverley’s comments offer a different perspective on one of the NBA’s most scrutinized seasons. While the Lakers ultimately reached the Western Conference Finals after the deadline overhaul, Beverley believes the blame placed on Westbrook never accurately reflected everything happening behind the scenes.
