LeBron James Calls Out Viral Video Saying Russell Westbrook Was Lakers' 'Scapegoat'

Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook made his debut for the Denver Nuggets in Friday's preseason game against the Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi, but the Celtics broadcast team said some disparaging things about his former Los Angeles Lakers teammate LeBron James.

While asserting that Westbrook was blamed for the Lakers' lack of success during his brief tenure with the team, one broadcaster sarcastically said, "You're telling me one of LeBron's teammates became a scapegoat out of nowhere?"

James took to social media on Saturday and made it clear that he wasn't pleased with the comments while calling Westbrook "a legend."

The broadcaster who asked the sarcastic question was responding to his partner saying of Westbrook, "I am rooting for him to make like nine threes against the Lakers because he got a lot of heat. That was a disaster of a team, and he got all the heat for that whole thing."

Westbrook was traded to the Lakers from the Washington Wizards in August 2021 in exchange for a package that included Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson. The UCLA alum was expected to help lead his hometown team back to title contention, but things didn't go as well as the team hoped.

Los Angeles finished the 2021-22 season with a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs. Westbrook appeared in 78 games and averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists, but he shot just 44.4 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from three-point range, causing many critics to question his effectiveness with the team. To make matters worse, James and star forward Anthony Davis both missed significant time due to injuries.

The Lakers sent Westbrook to the Utah Jazz at the 2023 trade deadline. After a contract buyout, he signed with the Los Angeles Clippers and remained with the team in the 2023-24 campaign, finding his niche in a bench role.

Westbrook impressed in his debut with the Nuggets, posting 12 points and eight assists in 19 minutes off the bench while the team suffered a 107-103 loss.