LeBron James Claps Back at Celtics Announcers After Westbrook CriticismLeBron James didn’t hold back after hearing Boston Celtics announcers Drew Carter and Brian Scalabrine’s remarks about his former teammate Russell Westbrook during Friday’s preseason game between the Nuggets and the Celtics. The comments touched on Westbrook’s challenging stint with the Lakers, sparking a response from James on social media.
LeBron Defends Westbrook
James took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to respond to the discussion. “Took a trip all the way to Abu Dhabi to be on my…..Eat some breakfast first! Anyways Brodie (Westbrook) a LEGEND,” James posted, referencing the fact that the preseason game was being played in Abu Dhabi.
The Celtics announcers had focused on Westbrook’s time with the Lakers, a tenure marked by underperformance and criticism from fans and analysts alike. Scalabrine showed sympathy for Westbrook, noting how the point guard had received undue blame for the Lakers’ struggles, while Carter sarcastically implied that James had made Westbrook a scapegoat.
A Complicated Lakers Tenure
Westbrook joined the Lakers in the 2021 offseason in a high-profile trade with the Washington Wizards. Expectations were sky-high, but the Lakers underperformed during his time with the team, missing the playoffs in the 2021-22 season. Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game, but his shooting struggles—especially from beyond the arc—exacerbated the team’s woes.
By the 2022-23 season, the Lakers had traded Westbrook for a package that included D’Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt, a move that helped them turn their season around and make a deep playoff run. Westbrook, meanwhile, was eventually bought out by the Utah Jazz and later joined the Clippers, where he found some redemption by helping them reach the postseason.
Longstanding Rivalry with the Celtics
James has had a long rivalry with the Celtics, having faced the team in seven postseason series, winning five of them. His recent social media post may not be one of the more memorable moments in that rivalry, but it underscores how closely he monitors discussions about himself and his former teammates, especially when they involve Westbrook, a player who has received plenty of criticism during his time in Los Angeles.
