LA Lakers News Roundup: Russell Westbrook finds support from Kevin Garnett, LeBron James' desire to own a team, and more | October 25, 2022
Kevin Garnett has offered his support to LA Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook amid relentless basketball adversity. Russ received a ton of flak last season and that has continued following an atrocious start for the Lakers this time around.
Meanwhile, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has responded to LeBron James’ public declaration that he wants to own an expansion team in Las Vegas. Silver called it a “healthy” process for players to move to management and ownership after their playing days are over.
For now, however, James' focus is likely to be on leading the Lakers to wins and breaking the all-time scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Magic Johnson sees former longtime teammate Abdul-Jabbar having a hard time accepting James’ inevitable reign as the all-time scoring champ. The “Magic Man” believes Abdul-Jabbar thought his record was unbreakable.
Here are the latest headlines involving the LA Lakers as of Oct. 25, 2022:
Kevin Garnett prays Russell Westbrook keeps his head amid unrelenting criticism
Russell Westbrook harbored a huge dream of one day playing for his hometown team, the LA Lakers. His stint with the Hollywood squad, however, has largely been chaotic and nightmarish.
Last season, Russ was labeled the biggest reason why the Lakers were one of the biggest failures in NBA history. He finished last season at loggerheads with former coach Frank Vogel and revealed he didn’t have the support of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
If last season was bad, the start of the 2022-23 season has been even worse for the former MVP. Kevin Garnett has come to support the embattled LA Lakers point guard with these words:
“I’ma pray for him, man. Russ, man, hold your head, man. I know how this s**t can be, man. It’s a long year. Whatever you gotta do, man, find your love, and find your passions.”
.@KevinGarnett5KG's advice to Westbrook 🗣 "Reset yourself and remember why you do this."
#NBA #Lakers https://t.co/CTHfqjF3cL
In the LA Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors, another Hall of Famer, Charles Barkley noted Westbrook’s struggles. “Sir Chuck” urged the Lakers to trade Westbrook as the point guard has lost all his joy and exuberance in basketball.
Russell Westbrook asserted that he’s been tested throughout his life, so the adversity he’s facing with the LA Lakers is nothing new to him.
Adam Silver welcomes LeBron James’ desire to own an expansion team in Las Vegas
LeBron James originally made public his intention to own a basketball team in Las Vegas during an episode of “The Shop.” He was trying to breathe into his existence his desire to own a basketball team.
A few months later, James said the same thing to the media after the LA Lakers’ preseason game in Sin City. He sent a public message to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about his plans to own a team in Vegas.
Silver has finally responded to LeBron James’ message:
“I think it's very healthy for the league when you have sort of this life-cycle of players moving into management, potentially moving into ownership. Obviously, Michael Jordan is the owner of Charlotte. … It's great for the ecosystem.
“I’m thrilled that LeBron aspires to be an NBA team owner one day. Las Vegas specifically will make a great location for a franchise one day. We have the WNBA team there, the Aces, that obviously just won the championship.”
Earlier this month, LeBron James directly appealed to Commissioner Adam Silver to have an NBA Team in Vegas. Today, Silver responded: https://t.co/jFqxGqPuKK
“King James” will have to be patient for at least a few more years as he still has a two-year contract with the LA Lakers. There are also more pressing matters that the NBA will be tackling before expansion talks start.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will struggle to accept LeBron James breaking his record, per LA Lakers legend Magic Johnson
LA Lakers icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time scoring mark on April 5, 1984. Abdul-Jabbar’s nearly 40-year reign as scoring champ could come to an end this season if LeBron James stays healthy.
Here’s what Magic Johnson had to say about how “Cap” could accept the inevitable:
“I don’t think [he would handle it] well. If I got to say it, we gotta be honest! And the fact that it’s a dude playing for the Lakers, playing in LA. I think it’ll be a hard pill to swallow. And I think he thought he was gonna have it forever.”
.@MagicJohnson reacts to LeBron James being on the verge of passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the All-Time Leading Scorer:
“If I got to be honest, Kareem isn’t going to handle it well…And it’s a dude that’s playing for the Lakers.” https://t.co/o0xzAjGdYw
That there’s a frosty relationship between the two only adds more drama and intrigue when LeBron James finally sits on the throne as the scoring king.
Heading into this season, “King James” had some pointed words when asked to share his thoughts and relationship with the six-time MVP.
“No thoughts. No relationship.”
"No thoughts. And no relationship"
LeBron on chasing Kareem’s scoring record and if they have a relationship https://t.co/yls2c1DJgF
The LA Lakers are currently winless in three games to open the 2022-23 season despite LeBron James averaging 27.3 points per game. It remains to be seen how things will go when James claims the throne if the Lakers are still struggling.
Abdul-Jabbar has been critical of James on several occasions of late. The Hall of Famer might have something to say if the Lakers continue to embarrass themselves on the day the all-time scoring title changes hands.