NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith is hopeful that Russell Westbrook will have a better season for the LA Lakers in the upcoming edition of the NBA. Westbrook could not live up to the lofty standards in the previous season as the Lakers had even failed to qualify for the play-in tournament.

Westbrook had received a lot of criticism for his ho-hum performances for the Lakers as he was expected to make a winning combination with Anthony Davis and LeBron James. However, Davis and James both struggled with injuries and the trio could only play 21 matches together, in which the team had a 11-10 record.

Speaking on First Take for ESPN, Stephen A. Smith said, “Even though he’s strong-willed and stubborn and what have you, I think you saw him internally wilt beneath that pressure, that shrapnel, that was thrown on him from being a Laker, from having his family in the stands, criticizing him, whatever the case may be.

“I think he’ll be much better this year. Make no mistake about it. I think Russell Westbrook will resurrect himself. I think we all need to pay attention to that.”

Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 78 games in the previous season and he will be looking to come up with a much-improved show.

Smith added, “What I love about what happened to him last year, he learned ain’t Oklahoma City, this ain’t Houston, this ain’t Washington DC. This is the Lakers.”

There will be high expectations from Russell Westbrook for the upcoming season and it will be interesting to note if he could take the Lakers all the way in NBA 2022-23along with Anthony Davis and LeBron James.