Jeanie Buss: Russell Westbrook Was Lakers’ Best Player Last Year

The Los Angeles Lakers have thus far been unsuccessful in buying and selling Russell Westbrook and are ready to enter the season with him on the roster. The Lakers additional difficult the state of affairs by buying and selling for Patrick Beverley, who has been a nemesis of Westbrook over the previous decade.

Jeanie Buss believes Westbrook and Beverley can co-exist.

“Yeah, I bear in mind all of the video that circulated when the Lakers introduced in Matt Barnes, (with) his relationship with Kobe over time (and) being among the best defenders on Kobe,” said Buss in an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic. “And now he turns into teammates with Kobe. We’ve seen these storylines earlier than. Pat Beverley was introduced right here to play protection, to be that man that is aware of the way to push his teammates, (who) units an instance with how he approaches his job. The day of the commerce, he was already right here after work hours figuring out. I acquired an opportunity to say whats up to him as I used to be leaving for the day. He simply brings that work ethic that we worth, that coach Ham values and goes to be a pacesetter within the locker room. So it has nothing to do with Russ. And like I mentioned, I feel that individuals, they love to drag up storylines and create one thing and that simply isn’t the case.

“All I can say is that, from my viewpoint, (Westbrook) was our greatest participant final yr. He performed just about each single sport, confirmed up, labored exhausting. , I’d have beloved to have seen what this staff would have regarded like in the event that they stayed wholesome. It’s actually powerful to win when Anthony Davis isn’t on the court docket. LeBron was harm lots of the season. However Russ confirmed up each sport and performed exhausting each evening. And, , I simply actually admire him for who he’s and what he brings to the staff.”

Amick gave Buss a possibility to make clear her comment on Westbrook by way of a follow-up textual content.

“The phrase I ought to have used was ‘constant,’” Buss wrote by way of textual content message. “He performed 78 video games final season.”