Russell Westbrook Fires Back at Magic Johnson Biting Criticism After Ugly Lakers Loss

The Los Angeles Lakers lost the game to the Denver Nuggets. It wasn’t just a loss. It was a blowout loss. Magic Johnson wasn’t really kind to the team, and he even blasted the team for the “lack of effort.” The former Lakers director of basketball operations believes that Jeanie Buss deserves better. Well, these comments didn’t sit well with Lakers players. Russell Westbrook took notice of the comments Magic Johnson made, and provided an expected response.

Johnson took to his Twitter account to deliver a message.

”After being blown out by the Nuggets 133-96, we as Lakers fans can accept being outplayed but we deserve more than a lack of effort and no sense of urgency. Owner Jeanie Buss, you deserve better,” he wrote.

After being blown out by the Nuggets 133-96, we as @Lakers fans can accept being outplayed but we deserve more than a lack of effort and no sense of urgency. Owner @JeanieBuss, you deserve better.

— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 16, 2022

The Hall of Famer didn’t target one particular player. He blasted the entire group, including LeBron James.

Russell Westbrook blasts Magic Johnson

The media asked Westbrook about Johnson’s criticism. His reaction?

“I do not have a reaction,” said Westbrook. “Everybody is entitled, in this world, to their opinion. Regardless of what that it is. You can either take it and run with it or you can take it and put it in one ear and out the other or you cannot respond to it.

“Magic’s entitled to his opinion. And he’s not here every day. He’s not around us every day. He’s not aware of what’s going on internally with us and trying to figure things out. But I have no response to that. … Like I said, everyone in this world is entitled to their opinion and that’s that.”

We have a few good reasons to believe that some Lakers players will agree with Broddie.

Lakers players struggled in the game against the Nuggets. LeBron finished the night with 25 points and Westbrook hit his first 3-pointer. This was nothing in comparison with the stats Nuggets players pulled out. Each and every player in the starting lineup scored a triple-double.

How will the Lakers fix the damage? Will the front office trade some of the players away? Will they sign other players?