LeBron James Defends Russell Westbrook as Scapegoat

LeBron James defended Russell Westbrook against claims from Boston Celtics commentators who suggested Westbrook was unfairly scapegoated for the Los Angeles Lakers' failures during his tenure. James labeled Westbrook a 'legend' in a social media post responding to the comments, which were made during a preseason game in Abu Dhabi. Westbrook has since joined the Denver Nuggets and praised teammate Nikola Jokic as the best player in the world, which some interpreted as a slight toward James. Despite his past struggles with the Lakers, Westbrook remains the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles and aims to reach 200 this season. The Lakers, meanwhile, continue to face criticism for their roster decisions that led to underperformance in recent seasons. As the NBA preseason unfolds, the dynamics between former teammates and their new roles are under scrutiny.