And sometimes moves simply don’t work out. Sources told ESPN that every member of the organization involved in the Russell Westbrook trade — including James – will admit they misjudged it, owning part of the blame.
Source: Dave McMenamin @ ESPN
Source: Dave McMenamin @ ESPN
What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Westbrook steal of Durant.
Durant chasedown block of Powell.
#Suns down 93-79 with 2:18 left in 3rd.
Bates-Diop checking in for Durant, who has played 27 minutes. Has 23 on 8-of-13 FGs.
Beal checks back in. – 12:11 AM
Westbrook steal of Durant.
Durant chasedown block of Powell.
#Suns down 93-79 with 2:18 left in 3rd.
Bates-Diop checking in for Durant, who has played 27 minutes. Has 23 on 8-of-13 FGs.
Beal checks back in. – 12:11 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Zubac with 15 on 6-of-7.
#Suns go small with Durant at the 5, playing zone, which leads to lanes to crash the offensive boards.
Westbrook does just that. Fouled. FTs. Down 12. – 12:08 AM
Zubac with 15 on 6-of-7.
#Suns go small with Durant at the 5, playing zone, which leads to lanes to crash the offensive boards.
Westbrook does just that. Fouled. FTs. Down 12. – 12:08 AM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
There’s no one out there for Ivica Zubac to guard in a Booker/Beal/Allen/Durant/Gordon lineup. Back-to-back Suns buckets forces a Tyronn Lue timeout, with Norman Powell at scorers table and Westbrook already in
LA leads 85-75 with 4:30 left in 3rd quarter – 12:04 AM
There’s no one out there for Ivica Zubac to guard in a Booker/Beal/Allen/Durant/Gordon lineup. Back-to-back Suns buckets forces a Tyronn Lue timeout, with Norman Powell at scorers table and Westbrook already in
LA leads 85-75 with 4:30 left in 3rd quarter – 12:04 AM

Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
In the Clippers’ last two games, Ty Lue had brought back the Big Four lineup of Harden-Westbrook-George-Leonard and tested it a couple times. Tonight, a change: It hasn’t been tried yet, with Westbrook and Harden substituting for one another. – 11:10 PM
In the Clippers’ last two games, Ty Lue had brought back the Big Four lineup of Harden-Westbrook-George-Leonard and tested it a couple times. Tonight, a change: It hasn’t been tried yet, with Westbrook and Harden substituting for one another. – 11:10 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Eubanks denial at rim.
Then forces Westbrook into miss on stepback.
George 3 over Booker to end 1st. #Clippers up 34-31 after one. – 11:04 PM
Eubanks denial at rim.
Then forces Westbrook into miss on stepback.
George 3 over Booker to end 1st. #Clippers up 34-31 after one. – 11:04 PM

Dan Favale @danfavale
russell westbrook is having *some* kind of first quarter pic.twitter.com/pjTrqXKuHK – 10:59 PM
russell westbrook is having *some* kind of first quarter pic.twitter.com/pjTrqXKuHK – 10:59 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
#Suns put Allen on Westbrook, goes to post and finds Zuback for dunk.
Booker 3 answer. Tie game. – 10:55 PM
#Suns put Allen on Westbrook, goes to post and finds Zuback for dunk.
Booker 3 answer. Tie game. – 10:55 PM


Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Last week at Phoenix, there were 5 unsportsmanlike techs:
– Booker
– Hyland
– Beal
– Leonard
– Westbrook
Frank Vogel said that he felt the Suns and Clippers respected each other… and that maybe the officials were the target of the extracurriculars
theathletic.com/5178424/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/UTY7ROIfBx – 9:27 PM
Last week at Phoenix, there were 5 unsportsmanlike techs:
– Booker
– Hyland
– Beal
– Leonard
– Westbrook
Frank Vogel said that he felt the Suns and Clippers respected each other… and that maybe the officials were the target of the extracurriculars
theathletic.com/5178424/2024/0… pic.twitter.com/UTY7ROIfBx – 9:27 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Chet Holmgren tonight:
31 PTS
5 AST
2 BLK
11-14 FG
4-5 3P
Already has the most 30-point games (3) by a Thunder rookie since Russell Westbrook. statmuse.com/nba/player/che… – 9:27 PM
Chet Holmgren tonight:
31 PTS
5 AST
2 BLK
11-14 FG
4-5 3P
Already has the most 30-point games (3) by a Thunder rookie since Russell Westbrook. statmuse.com/nba/player/che… – 9:27 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Thunder players with 50+ 30/5/5 games:
— Kevin Durant
— Russell Westbrook
And now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. pic.twitter.com/J3n5YOraYt – 9:18 PM
Thunder players with 50+ 30/5/5 games:
— Kevin Durant
— Russell Westbrook
And now, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. pic.twitter.com/J3n5YOraYt – 9:18 PM



More on this storyline
StatMuse: Most offensive rebounds by a guard this season: 57 — Russell Westbrook 52 — Jrue Holiday 49 — Josh Giddey 45 — Brandin Podziemski pic.twitter.com/R0NIUO828h -via Twitter @statmuse / January 9, 2024
Unlike the Vogel situation, where Buss was known to believe the former coach was largely to blame for the failed integration of Russell Westbrook and ultimately greenlighted his April 2022 firing as a result, all signs point to the Lakers’ most important decision-maker standing by the coach, who is in the second year of a four-year deal. -via The Athletic / January 8, 2024
Russell Westbrook moved up from No. 26 to No. 25 in the scoring all-time list after passing Patrick Ewing -via HoopsHype / January 2, 2024