NBA Media Day: 5 uncomfortable storylines to keep an eye out for

NBA Media Day: Russell Westbrook is still a Laker — brace for fireworks.

Basically from the moment that the Los Angles Lakers’ 2021-22 season came to a close, the talk of the town has been finding a new destination for Russell Westbrook. Once considered a yearly threat to win the MVP trophy, boasting an explosive playing style of the likes we’ve ever seen from a guard, Westbrook has grown into the black sheep of the NBA.

Once lauded as the hero of OKC, Westbrook’s rapid decline and horrid efficiency cloud a person who was, and still could be, a force in this league. It can safely be assumed that Westbrook will be asked about the rumors and how much he paid attention to them. He’ll also be asked questions about what he did during the offseason to prevent such mishaps from repeating themselves.

Although it’d be unusual for the team to trade its starting point guard right at the start of training camp, it’s certainly not unheard of, and if the right deal materializes, Westbrook will be shipped out faster than you can say ‘Crypto Dot Com Arena.’

There have been many times in the past when Westbrook become chippy when confronted by the media. While he’s not the type of player to be completely dismissive of reporters in all scenarios, Westbrook is going to let you know how he feels if you ask him a question that he doesn’t like. Given how much of a microscope he’s under — and rightfully so, coming off what was objectively his worst season since the early years — it’s safe to bet that fireworks could pop off when Russ steps up to the podium for NBA Media Day.

The first round of NBA Media Day is on Friday, Sept. 23 with most teams participating on the 26th.