Damian Lillard, Lakers
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Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Moda Center on February 24, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.
Nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard has called out the Los Angeles Lakers for how they managed Russell Westbrook during the former MVP’s one-and-a-half-year stint with the franchise that ended in early 2023.
“When Russ went to the Lakers, everyone was like [excited]. And then they got him coming off the bench,” Lillard said on “The Last Stand” podcast.
“Like he’s a Hall of Famer,” Lillard said of Westbrook. “And they tried to put a battery on his back and asked him to come off the bench. Man, that’s Russell Westbrook.”
“Like what?” added Lillard, criticizing the Lakers for minimizing Westbrook’s role.
Legion Hoops
Damian Lillard calls out the 2022 Lakers:
“The Lakers had Russ coming off the bench like he’s not Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook. Like what?!” (@Beastbr00k0)
Lakers, Westbrook ‘Toxic’ Stint
In fairness to the Lakers, Westbrook started all 78 of his games with his hometown franchise in his first year, before being relegated to a bench role in his second season. While he averaged 17.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.9 rebounds in 130 games for the Lakers, Westbrook was regularly booed by Lakers fans at Crypto.com Arena and mocked with nicknames such as “Westbrick” due to his inconsistent shooting.
When Westbrook was finally moved before the 2023 NBA trade deadline, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that a Lakers staffer described the 2017 NBA MVP as “a vampire” who drained “the blood out of the locker room” during his stint with the team.
Damian Lillard HOF Controversy
Lillard’s comments on Westbrook come at a time when former NBA guard Patrick Beverley has questioned the Portland Trail Blazers star’s Hall of Fame candidacy.
“Hell no! I love Dame, but it’s too many people that get in the Hall of Fame,” Beverley said on his podcast, explaining why Lillard wasn’t worthy of a HOF nod.
“Let me start off with that. Second off, Hall of Fame has to be a combination of points, rebounds, assists, wins, playoff appearances, and championships.
“Like, how are we gonna say no to D Rose getting MVP and say yes to Dame Lillard? If he gets a chip, for sure. But scoring a lot of points on okay teams? I don’t think that gets you into Hall of Fame.”
Beverley has received significant criticism for his remarks, as some analysts contend that Lillard is a Hall of Famer by default due to his inclusion in the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
“I hear what he (Beverley) is saying, he is top 75,” Charlie Villanueva said.
“I hear what Pat Bev is saying, but I can’t agree with it because the standard is already been made. No disrespect to fu—ing Tim Hardaway Sr. But he is a Hall of Famer, so he is a great fu—ing player fu—ing phenomenal. But Dame Lillard or Tim Hardaway. It’s Dame Lillard to me,”
“So it’s a no-brainer Hall of Famer.”
Lillard, who sat out the entire 2025-26 campaign recovering from an Achilles injury, is expected to return to action next season.