Russell Westbrook Sends Strong Message About Being In Lakers Lineup

Head coach Frank Vogel benched Russell Westbrook, but the veteran knows his role in the Los Angeles Lakers lineup. Westbrook ended up on the bench for the second time in the regular season. It was a big blow for the veteran and obviously, he didn’t like it. Westbrook didn’t join his teammates in the final minutes of the game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Westbrook wasn’t happy for obvious reasons. He believes that the Lakers would have won the game with his help. Oh it doesn’t end here… Westbrook said that he has “earned” the right to play until the final minute.

“I shouldn’t have to hit any benchmark to be honest,” Westbrook said after the loss to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team. “I put in a lot of work and I got a lot of respect in this game. Don’t have to hit a benchmark, or I shouldn’t have to. I earned the right to be in closing lineups… numbers would say [that], I don’t have to.”

Russell Westbrook to LeBron & AD: "I told them I wished I could help them. Unfortunately, I wasn’t in the game to be able to help them & that’s why I came here. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do that for them but that’s not my call." pic.twitter.com/uC4aao2y9z

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 9, 2022

Russell Westbrook believes he deserves a spot in the Lakers lineup

Westbrook faces serious criticism. Lakers fans don’t approve his performance. His struggles are just too much. If you ask Broddie, he will say he is able to help his team when things go wrong. At one point of the fourth quarter, Westbrook went to LeBron and Davis. Cameras caught the moment.

“I told them I wished I could help them,” Westbrook detailed. ”Unfortunately I wasn’t in the game to be able to help them and that’s why I came here to be able to help out. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to do that for them but that’s not my call. I can be there as a leader and as a voice of whatever it is that’s needed for the team. That’s what I’ll do until… my number, or whatever, is called during that time.”

Well, some say that LeBron and Davis didn’t even pay attention to their teammate.

This leads us all the way to the front office. Will Rob Pelinka trade Westbrook after this game?