Frank Vogel was indeed pretty frank after his team’s latest game.
Vogel’s Los Angeles Lakers needed overtime on Saturday to defeat the 12th-place New York Knicks at home. During the extra period, the Lakers coach Vogel decided to bench guard Russell Westbrook, who had a rough night, in favor of Talen Horton-Tucker. The Lakers ended up winning 122-115 with Westbrook on the bench for the entire overtime.
After the game, Vogel was asked by reporters what response he was hoping to get out of Westbrook by benching him.
“Hopefully the response is that player plays better,” said Vogel bluntly, per Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation.
That sounds like Vogel telling Westbrook pretty matter-of-factly that he has to step his game. He is right too. While the Lakers rallied from 21 down to win, none of that was thanks to Westbrook. LeBron James had a 29-13-10 triple-double, Anthony Davis posted 28 points and 17 rebounds, and Malik Monk chipped in 29 key points of his own. Meanwhile, Westbrook brought up the rear with five points on a horrifying 1-for-10 from the field on top of a team-worst plus-minus of -15. It got so bad for Westbrook on Saturday that he even got booed by the Lakers’ home crowd after one especially ugly miss.
With the Lakers just about at full strength, Westbrook still seems to be their clear weakest link. The difference now though is that Vogel no longer fears benching his $44 million man. Vogel already benched Westbrook once last month, and Westbrook did not respond to it particularly well. It remains to be seen how the former MVP will handle his latest relegation to the sideline.
Photo: Oct 6, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Russell Westbrook prior to the preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
