Lakers Ready to Face Wolves in Home Opener After LeBron Defends Westbrook with Epic Tweet
It’s been four long years since the Los Angeles Lakers hoisted the championship trophy in Disney’s magical bubble, and now, only LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Jeanie Buss, and Rob Pelinka remain from that heroic squad. Everyone else? Gone. Carmelo Anthony? Bounced. Rajon Rondo? Poof. Dwight Howard? Probably wrestling in some faraway land. And don’t even mention Russell Westbrook—unless, of course, you want LeBron to hit you with the kind of fire that melts through social media.
Ah, yes, Westbrook—former MVP, two-time scoring champ, and somehow the Lakers’ convenient scapegoat for everything from missed playoffs to bad parking. After two seasons of constant finger-pointing and furrowed brows in LA, Westbrook took his talents across town to the Clippers last season, where he reminded people that, hey, he’s still pretty good when he’s not carrying the entire blame of the Lakers on his back. But now he’s suiting up for the Denver Nuggets, chasing a ring alongside Nikola “Triple-MVP” Jokic, which brings us to the latest drama.
In a preseason game between the Celtics and Nuggets (no, this isn’t even about the Lakers, but stay with me), a Celtics broadcaster decided to throw some shade at LeBron, claiming, “Russell Westbrook became the Lakers’ scapegoat when he played with LeBron.” Why this comment came up during a Celtics game is anyone’s guess—maybe the guy was bored. But it didn’t take long for the internet to turn that random jab into a viral moment, and you know what happens when LeBron sees viral nonsense aimed his way. King James took to X (formerly Twitter, but do we really need to keep calling it that?), clapping back with a defense of his former teammate that could only be described as… well, very LeBron.
LeBron didn’t just defend himself; he practically gave Westbrook a standing ovation, reminding everyone that Westbrook was no scapegoat and definitely not the reason the Lakers had to book early vacations. The audacity of the broadcaster to drop that hot take in a game completely unrelated to LeBron or the Lakers was something, but hey, maybe he thought LeBron doesn’t have time for social media between father-son basketball practice and breaking more NBA records. Spoiler alert: he does.
Lakers Gearing Up for the Season: Title Number 18 in Sight?
So, what about those Lakers? They’re not just here for the Twitter beef; they’ve got championship number 18 in their crosshairs. With LeBron entering season 22—because Father Time clearly forgot about him—and a healthy Anthony Davis (knock on wood), the Lakers are looking primed to storm through the Western Conference. After all, nothing screams “underdog” quite like the most decorated franchise in NBA history.
In addition to the usual suspects, the Lakers are rolling out their newest family member: Bronny James. He didn’t exactly light up Summer League, averaging a modest seven points per game, but hey, genetics, right? Rookie head coach J.J. Redick (yes, that J.J. Redick) will be counting on more than just the father-son duo, though. D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Cam Reddish, and Rui Hachimura are back to round out a roster that could make some serious noise if everything clicks. And with the Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and the towering Rudy Gobert on deck for the Lakers’ home opener, we’re in for a showdown right from the start.
Opening night might be all about the Knicks and Celtics, but don’t sleep on the Lakers vs. Timberwolves. It’s going to be a high-flying, eyebrow-raising affair—especially if LeBron decides to throw a behind-the-back pass or two, just to remind everyone that even in year 22, he’s still got more tricks up his sleeve than a magician at a kid’s birthday party.
So buckle up, NBA fans, because between viral social media spats, Bronny’s debut, and the relentless quest for another banner, this season promises to be anything but boring. And let’s not forget: somewhere in Denver, Russell Westbrook is sitting back with a smile, knowing that, finally, someone’s got his back—courtesy of the King himself.