NBA
WATCH: Westbrook dunks over Gobert
The Lakers badly needed their 101-95 win over the Jazz and Russell Westbrook needed to prove something, even if that meant getting a technical foul.
It’s been a rough season for Russel Westbrook. The Los Angeles Lakers have been struggling and Westbrook has been disappointing. The criticism about his trade is rampant, and Westbrook recently said that he knows he needs to make a big sacrifice to help out the team. He isn’t the superstar he used to be and making room for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to shine is the “sacrifice” I think he was referring to here.
None of that stepping out of the limelight happened on Monday, though. When the Lakers played the Utah Jazz, Westbrook looked enraged when he jumped and dunked over Rudy Gobert in the paint. Just after the vicious dunk, Westbrook stared down Gobert, which cost him a technical foul. He didn’t seem to mind, celebrating that epic dunk with his teammates after.
The Lakers were on a three-game losing streak and the pressure is on for Russel Westbrook. Maybe this dunk was a result of that built-up pressure and stress.
The Lakers will play the Indiana Pacers in Los Angeles on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.