The Lakers never found a way for Russell Westbrook and LeBron James to succesfully coexist during their brief stint together in Los Angeles after Westbrook's trade in the summer of 2021. A new book from Yaron Weitzman recently revealed new details on how and when the pair's relationship started to go south, with Westbrook reportedly growing weary of the four-time NBA champ's "fake" behavior.
In an excerpt from Weitzman's book, A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers, published at The Ringer, Westbrook is coming off a disappointing season in 2021-22 but the Lakers are still trying to make things work between him and James. However, Weitzman shares a few anecdotes that paint a concerning picture of Westbrook's and James's fractured relationship, one that may have hit the tipping point following a visit by actor Will Smith in '22.
