NBA Twitter and Darvin Ham strive to keep Russell Westbrook’s legacy intact

After Russell Westbrook’s dismal 2021-22 season, people are undermining his NBA legacy. New Lakers coach Darvin Ham is hoping for a turnaround this year.

Not surprisingly, it all started with a wild, off-the-cuff claim by Colin Cowherd.

Cowherd wanted to recognize Draymond Green as an always-helpful teammate, but in doing so he made sure he met NBA players like Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook and John Wall. Unlike Green, none of the above players have ever done anything to help their teammates, Cowherd explained.

Oklahoma City Thunder Beat writer Brandon Rahbar, who witnessed Westbrook’s career at OKC, was quick to counter Colin’s claim with compelling statistics. Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal enjoyed some of their best seasons with Westbrook as teammates, while the Warriors did not fare well in 2020 alone with Draymond Green.

Kendrick Perkins also weighed in, citing incredulity at suggesting a three-time NBA assists leader isn’t helpful to teammates.

Still, there were critics like Cowherd and others who said Westbrook doesn’t do any better with its surrounding cast, regardless of the statistics cited by Rahbar and Perkins. And in truth, Westbrook’s 2021-22 season was so disastrous that recent history appears to have tarnished the decades-long legacy that earned him that coveted spot with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Russell Westbrook’s entire legacy is being challenged this season, and Darvin Ham must restore it

How bad is Russell Westbrook?

For starters, a reporter recently asked him if he was coming off the bench next season, to which Westbrook just laughed.

Newly appointed Lakers head coach Darwin ham captured the mood perfectly: everyone is now acting as if Westbrook only played one season in the NBA instead of 14 seasons.

Rather than shy away from using Westbrook, Ham is looking forward to bringing him back to compete at the Championship level.

“I want him to go back to being a defensive pit bull and it’s going to be fine from there,” Ham said.

Despite Ham’s public support for Westbrook, people still don’t take Westbrook’s future in Los Angeles seriously.

Rumors continue to circulate that Westbrook may have already spent his final season in Los Angeles, but it seems Darvin Ham would like to have a season with him to see if he can bring back the Westbrook of yore.

It’s been a terrible season for Westbrook that understandably frustrated Lakers fans and even Westbrook himself. But it was just that – one Season, one Westbrook still has a chance to redeem to preserve his legacy.