LeBron James scored 28 points as the Los Angeles Lakers lost their fifth successive game to open the new season – and afterwards he spoke out on the performance of teammate Russell Westbrook
LeBron James heaped praise on Russell Westbrook after the criticised guard impressed off the bench during the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.
The Lakers slipped to a horrendous 0-5 to start the 2022/23 NBA season as they lost to the Timberwolves in Minnesota. The 111-102 defeat was met with jeers from the home crowd as James has suffered the worst start to a season since his rookie campaign.
The Lakers couldn’t overcome the Timberwolves as Anthony Edwards scored 29 points while Rudy Gobert – acquired from the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster trade – tallied 22 points and 21 rebounds. Karl-Anthony Towns scored 14 points in the fourth quarter as he finished with 21 in total as Minnesota won successive games for the first time this season.
James was without his fellow star as Anthony Davis did not play due to lower back tightness. The much-maligned Westbrook came off the bench for the first time in his career since his rookie season as he added 18 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort – and James insisted the former MVP’s energy âcatapulted’ the franchise’s performance.