‘With Me Every Time’: Russell Westbrook Remembers Kobe Bryant After Being Unveiled as a Laker

Published 08/10/2021, 11:00 PM EDT

The Lakers have produced great players in the NBA. In addition, they have also been a destination for great players to come and win a championship. A prime example of this would be Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Well, now they have added yet another outstanding player into their roster.

They finally unveiled Russell Westbrook as a Laker after acquiring him in a blockbuster trade involving the Washington Wizards. Naturally, he was asked about Kobe Bryant. Russell Westbrook responded to the question and said this about Kobe.

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Kobe Bryant will always be with Russell Westbrook

When asked about the ‘Mamba’, Russ said it is still crazy to think about what happened to him (Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January 2020. His daughter, Gianna Bryant, was also one victim of the crash). Moreover, he also added that he will have Bryant in his mind in every game he plays as a Laker.

He said, “It’s just crazy to think about. That’ll be with me every time I put that Laker jersey on.”

Russell Westbrook on Kobe Bryant: "It's just crazy to think about. That'll be with me every time I put that Laker jersey on."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) August 10, 2021

There is no doubt that Russ will have Bryant with him while playing for Los Angeles. Donning the purple and gold is an enormous step for Russ. This is his 4th franchise in as many years, and he will now hope to win a championship with them.

‘Mr. Triple Double’ will look to strengthen his legacy as a basketball great. He has been put in a situation to win, but can he do it?

Can Westbrook win with the Lakers?

Many people have criticized Westbrook for being a selfish player, and his inability to play with stars. However, that is only a false narrative. Paul George, Durant, and James Harden enjoyed their best scoring games while they played with Russ.

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Now, alongside LeBron and Anthony Davis, there is no doubt that he will help them as well. He has averaged a triple-double in 5 of the last 6 seasons. Last year, he put up 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. So, not only can he score, but he is also a very capable playmaker.

However, the most important factor is his competitiveness. Russ, one of the most competitive players in the league, plays hard every possession. His hustle is what the Lakers need to go that one step further and add an 18th banner to the Staples Center.

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Do you think Westbrook will win with the Lakers? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Anuj Talwalkar is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He is a student studying at NM College in Mumbai, aspiring to pursue sports management to follow his love for sports. Anuj started following the NBA last year, and he loves to combine his passion for writing with his understanding of basketball.

‘With Me Every Time’: Russell Westbrook Remembers Kobe Bryant After Being Unveiled as a Laker

Kobe Bryant will always be with Russell Westbrook

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Can Westbrook win with the Lakers?