Russell Westbrook has always been the center of attention, usually for not-so-kind matters. The Kings’ point guard recently went viral for a clip circulating online from a small meetup with fans, who had a range of jerseys from his different teams. In the video, Russ seemed to straight-up decline a family with his Lakers jersey, and the video immediately circulated on social media. However, an NBA legend just backed up Westbrook, revealing a ‘new angle’ to the story.

Gilbert Arenas, in a clip from his Gil’s Arena podcast, said, “Funny part about it is, I’m friends with the family that had the Laker jersey… Russ, he gave us a wristband. He signed his wristband. Like, we have no problems. My son was happy.”

The former NBA player concluded his statement by relaying the family’s request to him. “He hit me and basically told me, ‘Man, you gotta protect Russ, man. Like, how they’re making it seem, that’s b——-,'” Arenas said.

The podcast host’s caption on the clip echoed this sentiment as well. For him, it’s not about the Purple and Gold jersey or a single moment, but how easily a narrative can be weaponized…

“Y’all gotta chill with the Russell Westbrook slander. 💯 Every time that man breathes wrong, y’all act like he stole somebody’s grandma’s pension. 😂 He’s a walking triple-double, a future Hall of Famer, and still plays harder than half the league combined. Stop trying to make Russ the villain when he’s really the People’s Champ 🏀🔥,” Arenas said.

Gilbert Arenas’ words carry an inevitable, troubling fatigue. For years, Russell Westbrook has had to exist under a microscope that very few players have had to endure. He has faced accusations of “stat-padding” and being labelled “uncoachable,” and his every move has been turned into viral fodder, mockingly. And for Arenas, on the other hand, who’s had his own issues with public perception, this sort of double standard hits close to home.

There’s also irony in the outrage.

Westbrook has clearly moved on. Because he’s had decent stints with both the Clippers and the Nuggets, quietly accepting bench roles with both teams in possession of better players. In return, teammates and coaches praised him for leadership.

Tyronn Lue, his former Clippers coach, appreciated how Brodie instantly became a “vocal leader” for the younger players. Nuggets forward Peyton Watson called him a “super valuable piece” and someone he “love[d] playing with.”

Yet, somehow, the echoes of his underwhelming Lakers tenure seem to keep following him around. However, a new revelation actually has Westbrook on the other side of the fence for once.

When being “fake” was the breaking point for Russell Westbrook, LeBron slammed!

Russell Westbrook facing Lakers-related drama is nothing new. However, there was a brief time when everyone thought this was going to work out in LA. The Lakers, however, were in turmoil with a set of new coaching staff following Frank Vogel’s departure, and had to deal with a tense locker room. Small moments, like Russ sitting across LeBron James at the Summer League, only amplified the discontent, shaping a narrative that had little to do with basketball itself…

The tension peaked during the Lakers’ Genius Series session with Will Smith. LeBron and Anthony Davis, who had left before the actor arrived, returned fully engaged while the Brodie watched in disbelief following a discussion with Patrick Beverley. What was supposed to be a half-hour session extended past an hour as Bron allegedly quoted lines and kept asking questions, prompting Westbrook to tell another Lakers teammate that he “hate[d] that fake shit.”

As per the excerpt of author Yaron Weitzman’s book ‘A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers’, the teammate mentioned above was Patrick Beverley, who had told Brodie, “Them two guys can do whatever the f— they want. They won a championship.”

All this, while LeBron James publicly seemed to support the sentiment to “let Russ be Russ” while also actively campaigning to make the Lakers trade for Kyrie Irving, knowing that the only way to facilitate it would be by trading Russell Westbrook… Though seemingly small, all these moments add up together, reinforcing the idea that the now-Kings star was at odds with the Lakers camp.