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- Report: High-ranking people believe Kyrie Irving joining the Lakers could still be on the table
- Malik Monk says he’s open to taking less money to stay with Lakers
- Report: Kyrie Irving could be willing to sign with Lakers for $6 million mid-level exception
- Report: Lakers are only team eyeing Kyrie Irving via sign-and-trade, but Nets aren’t believed to have interest in available deals
- Report: Sources ‘very’ close to the situation ‘strongly’ believe Kyrie Irving is trying to make his way to the Lakers
- Draymond Green says he and LeBron James had a phone call and talked about how crazy it is to go from 3 championship rings to 4
- J.R. Smith seen working out alongside Lakers superstar LeBron James
- Bulls legend Scottie Pippen pens emotional letter to his son following his deal with Lakers
- Pacers lottery pick challenges LeBron James: ‘A lot of people say he’s great…he’s going to have to show me he’s better than me’
Shaquille O’Neal says Russell Westbrook is ‘role player’ on Lakers
- Updated: October 20, 2021

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal made a bold statement about Lakers newcomer Russell Westbrook, claiming that he sees the nine-time All-Star as a “role player.”
“They still need role players, right?” O’Neal said. “I see Russ as a role player, a damned good one, but he’s a role player. It’s LeBron [James] first, AD (Anthony Davis) second and then Russ. He can get his stuff on the break.”
There’s no doubt that Westbrook has a big adjustment period ahead of him. The veteran is used to taking on a massive role with high usage. However, given the number of superstars that the Lakers have, he’s not going to be able to play that part with L.A.
Westbrook had an ugly debut with L.A. in the team’s season opener on Tuesday. He was held to just eight points on 4-for-13 shooting. While he dished out four assists, he also coughed up four turnovers.
The 32-year-old seemed frustrated after the game, and he’s surely going to do everything in his power to turn things around.
Westbrook and the Lakers are off to an 0-1 start this season. They’ll look to get their first victory of the campaign later this week against the Phoenix Suns.