Los Angeles Lakers' Russell Westbrook opens up on disconnect with Frank Vogel, disappointing season

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — With Frank Vogel removed as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers earlier in the day, Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook opened up about the disconnect that existed between the two of them in his first season in L.A.

«I think it's unfortunate, to be honest, because I've never had an issue with any of my coaches before,» Westbrook said on Monday after his exit interview with the Lakers front office. «I'm not sure what his issue was with me or I'm not sure why, but I can't really give you an answer to why we really never connected.»

Westbrook, who was the highest paid player during the Lakers' nightmarish 2021-22 season, wasn't done with his griping with just the coach, either. He took aim at several other aspects of his Lakers experience that went awry in his 21-minute news conference, detailing how he felt he was wronged.

«When I first got here, the ability to be able to do what I'm able to do for a team and an organization wasn't given a fair chance,» he said.

Westbrook went on to blame false news reports as a contributing factor to his struggles this past season.

«The famous 'source' stories that came out about myself, whether it be between me and the staff, me and Frank, me and the fans, there's just so many made-up stories that are not true,» Westbrook said. «It's just always having to fight against that constantly. It's just not [being] given a fair chance. It's like, 'OK, now I got to fight against this made-up story. Now I got to fight against this one. Now I go to fight against this one. Now I got to fight against this one.'»

When asked directly to name one example of a fabricated story about his time with the Lakers, he did not offer a direct response.

«No,» Westbrook said. «I can't. You know