(Translator's note: This article is written by ESPN senior journalist Brian Windhorst, and the content does not represent the views of the translator and the platform.) Data as of April 1, Beijing time. ）
Los Angeles Lakers players are usually invited to boss Jenny Bath's second-floor office, which has a huge glass window under which there is a special cabinet displaying 11 NBA championship trophies. Looking out from this huge glass window, the Lakers' training hall can be seen.
In late August 2021, there was a sensational big deal in the NBA, and the Lakers got Russell-Weisbrook from the Wizards. Wei Shao became another star of the star-studded Lakers team.
"Glad you're here." Jenny Bass spoke to Westbrook, the 2017 NBA regular season MVP, on a cable TV show.
As she began a familiar speech, she introduced Her father, the late boss Jerry Bass, to Westbrook.
"My dad bought the Lakers in 1979. It was magic Johnson's rookie year, and we won the NBA championship that year. One of the goals my dad bought the Lakers was to surpass the Celtics' championship total, and now we're all 17 champions. ”
"We know what we need to do." Wei Shao interjected.
"We're kind of obsessed with winning the 18th overall title." Lakers general manager Pelinka said he brought Jenny, who came to see Westbrook.
That day and the blood at that time became a little blurred. The Lakers, who currently have a record of just 31 wins and 45 losses, are 11th in the West, and they are now trying to seize the chance of a final playoff spot.
With long-term disappointment, uneasiness and bad luck, the Lakers' championship dreams and spirit this season have been shattered. Here's a quote from players, coaches and management to see how this all happened.
August 4, 2021: James tweeted about the team's offseason operations, saying, "Keep talking about us, say we're older, talk about the way we play, talk about our injuries, say we've been in this league, wait and so on. Please do me a favor, okay? I said, 'Please!!! When the season starts, go ahead and say, that's all I'm asking for. ”
A few hours later, the tweet was deleted, but the internet has a memory.
August 10, 2021: Westbrook joins the Lakers' press conference
Pelinka said: "When an opportunity like getting Westbrook arises, you think deeply, you do some analysis, and then weigh the pros and cons and finally make a decision. That's what leaders are. ”
In this speech, Pelinka said that trading Wither was his decision. ESPN's Ramona reported that James and Westbrook had been discussing playing together for weeks. Pelinka had already proposed a framework plan to trade the Kings' Barty Hield, but when Westbrook urged the Wizards to trade himself to the Lakers on draft night, it all reversed completely.
Lakers head coach Vogel: We're a very dynamic fast-attack team, and those three guys can play a variety of combinations. I think we've now got a real chance to do something special this season. The source of motivation is the championship trophy, not what others say.
A lot of people think the Lakers are too old to be competitive, they're the oldest team in the league, and they've got six more players over the age of 30, 4 of whom are even over 34. Vogel refuted this claim. Vogel is right about fast-forward attack. The Lakers ranked 21st last season and jumped to 7th this season. But it also had disastrous consequences, with the Lakers plummeting from no. 1 defense in the league last season to no. 23 this season.
Westbrook: Being able to stay with my kids and see my parents and wife every day is the best thing I can think of. It's great not to have to let them follow me around.
The choice of the family to play with the Lakers was a very important factor from the beginning, but it has been ignored. For the first two seasons, when he played with the Rockets and Wizards, he felt stressed out without his wife and three children. When he is criticized for his performance on the pitch, he likes to return to his family to find warmth, which is also the source of his happiness.
September 27, 2021: Lakers training camp for the new season
Before the team began training, Pelinka spoke to the team and later aired behind the scenes of the Lakers.
Pelinka said: "Our team can say that it has gathered the greatest talent in the recent history of the NBA, you can certainly say so, but without the right mentality, everything is zero. ”
James told the media: "I'm thrilled to be able to bring this team together. My idea and the rest of the team is to fight for the title. I have enough basketball experience to help the team. So, I'm very clear about what We and Westbrook need to do to help the team reach the heights we could have reached. ”
The prospect of winning the championship this season is also very optimistic within the team. It is worth noting that James supported reports that he was involved in forming the team and had some decision-making power, especially the Westbrook deal.
October 22, 2021: Farce on the bench
In a game that lost to the Suns by 10 points, during a timeout, Davis and Howard clashed on the bench. They quarreled, then Howard stood up to face Davis, who grabbed Howard's arm, pointed at him, and yelled at Howard, and then they were separated by their teammates.
Howard said: "We're fine, we're okay, Davis is my brother. ”
Davis said: "We left these things in the dressing room at halftime. ”
The small conflict between the two stemmed from problems on the defensive end, which was the first public sign of a series of problems within the team. Just like this: For the first time in Lakers history, they started 0-2 at home.
November 2021: The inside story of the Lakers' offseason operations is revealed
Lillard of the Trail Blazers said on Nov. 3: "James has painted a picture of the future for me, and if I leave Portland, that's pretty much it. He didn't tell me to let me go to the Lakers. ”
The Bulls' Caruso said on Nov. 9: "I was offered a $37 million contract for 4 years by the Bulls and I ran to ask the Lakers if they could give me the same contract and they said no. I said if it was a little less, they still said no. So I said, 'Well, if that's the case, then I'm going to go to Chicago and start the next chapter of my life.' ’”
Speaking about Caruso, Pelinka said: "Caruso has been very good at the Lakers, he is a championship player, and we are forever grateful for his contribution to the team. He has the power to choose, he chooses to go to another team. ”
Bulls guard DeRozan said on Nov. 15: "I thought my trade with the Lakers was a foregone conclusion and I was going home to play, but because of the contract problem, things didn't go in that direction." ”
Lillard and DeRozan spoke to ESPN, and Caruso said it on Redick's podcast. At the time of the interview, the Lakers were playing a disappointing 9-10 start and Westbrook struggled, while the Bulls, who owned DeRozan and Caruso, made a 10-4 start.
Both Lillard and DeRozan have said they have talked to him at James' home during the offseason and understand James' role in the functioning of the team. Spurs and DeRozan's agent Aaron Goodwin have already drawn up a first-and-then-trade deal to send DeRozan to the Lakers, but the Lakers don't want to give the 32-year-old DeRozan full protection for his third-year contract. Never mind, the Lakers then turned to Westbrook, and DeRozan got a 3-year, $82 million full guarantee contract from the Bulls.
Caruso said the Lakers offered him a contract offer of $15 million for 2 years. The team is focused on signing Horton Tucker on a three-year, $31 million contract, and they refuse to sign Caruso for a lower price. The team has bird rights for both men and can sign them at the same time, but given the luxury tax, they can only choose one.
These details aside, the players that the Lakers had a chance to get are playing their performances, and the Lakers' choice of Westbrook is a failure.
December 6, 2021: Vogel faces dismissal
Vogel: "Being a manager is bound to attract a lot of criticism, and I'm used to that. I've been a coach for over 10 years and I've seen everything. ”
James: "You know, the job of coaching is to bring criticism. Vogel is a strong-willed man and he has a great coaching staff. We're a team and we don't mind the current predicament, and we don't mind what others say. ”
The Lakers gave Vogel a contract extension in the summer, and he was also the team's first coach to help the team win a championship since Phil Jackson. But it's a less friendly contract, only for one year, even though he just led the team to an NBA championship in 2020. For comparison, after winning the 2021 NBA championship, the Bucks renewed their contract with head coach Budenholzer for a 3-year contract. Giving Vogel only a 1-year contract reduced the confidence of the players in him, and after the team's 12-12 start, rumors of Vogel's possible dismissal slowly grew.
December 8, 2021: Jenny stands up for Vogel
Jenny: "Unless our players are 100% healthy, I don't think you have the right to make an assessment. We are a close-knit team. I don't know what you want me to say, and I won't judge until we're 100% healthy. ”
The comments were released by the media during the halftime of the team's win over the Celtics, which also shattered rumors that Vogel would be sacked. Jenny mentioned that in the team's first 16 games, James, Ariza and Horton Tucker missed 10 games due to injury, which is a dilemma that Vogel has to face.
January 17, 2022: Rumors that Westbrook Trade and Vogel are out of class
Wishao: Every year, my name appears in trading rumors, but these have never, never, never affected how I do things. Considering these things that won't happen, nothing can affect my spirit and purpose. I think I have a bigger goal than basketball, and whatever happens, it's my priority.
Vogel: Coaching is really tiring for this job, okay. You have to do a lot of post-match analysis, you have to talk to the players one-on-one, point out where they can do better, consolidate what they're already doing well, make a detailed game plan, and so on.
James: I may not like what I'm going to say, so I'm not going to say anything to you.
Wei Shao told the media that he would not be upset by the rumors about his trade reported by the trade deadline. After the Lakers lost to the Nuggets by 37 points, there were multiple reports that Vogel was now on the verge of being fired. James declined to speak after that loss, only apologizing to Lakers fans on Twitter and promising the team would get better. During this period, Davis missed 14 games due to injury, and the team won 6 and lost 8. When the Lakers' winning percentage drops below 50 percent, their high expectations for the season are fading.
After the win over the Jazz, the news that Vogel will be fired finally cooled down, and James spoke publicly in front of the media.
January 19, 2022: Wei Shao sits on the cold bench
Vogel: I put the lineup that I thought I could win on the pitch.
James: I don't want to point fingers, I don't want to comment, who should be on the field, or what's wrong with Vogel, what's wrong with Westbrook, I'm going to go to the movies with my wife, I have to go.
Westbrook: Surprised, yes, I was disappointed that I couldn't get back on the pitch in the final moments of the game, but what disappointed me even more was that we lost. I wanted to stay on the pitch and help my teammates win, but that wasn't my decision. I accept everything I'm asked to do, I do my best...I can make sacrifices in order for the team to win, after all winning is the most important part of this game.
The team lost at home to the struggling Pacers, with Westbrook being pressed onto the bench in the final 4 minutes, the team's fourth loss in their last five games. Meiji reported that Vogel and the coaching staff were authorized to press Westbrook on the bench if needed. Before the game, Wei Shao left the bench and then left the dressing room early without giving an interview to the media. He made his comments to the media the day after.
February 10, 2022: Trading deadline, the Lakers will not move
Pelinka: We saw different things throughout the process, like I did in the past, I had discussions with James, Davis, and we came to an agreement, and that's what mattered.
VOGEL: It's a whole new day. For the team, after the trade deadline, we will be full of energy again. This is a team we only formed this year and I have confidence in our team.
James: The trade deadline is over. We have a chance to move on, we know that's our squad and we're going to come together and work together.
The Lakers didn't make any moves on the trade deadline, which Vogel believes has put a lot of relief on the team. However, James didn't seem to look forward as he said. Over the next 10 days, his relationship with management showed signs of deteriorating. ESPN reported that James had a different view of Pelinka's refusal to take any action before the trade deadline. There are reports that management has refused to trade the team's 2027 first-round pick, making a potential deal difficult to close, especially given that Westbrook has now become an underdesirable person in the trading market.
On Feb. 16, during the Los Angeles Rams (rugby) championship parade, James posted a picture on Twitter in which Rams general manager Les Snead wore a dress with the words "Go to his draft picks," a reference to Les Snead's bold trade to build a championship team that won immediately, and James also wrote "Legend!" I like that. "It's almost a public attack on Lakers management for not trading for the ball.
Asked during the Cleveland All-Star Game if he would come back to play for the Cavaliers, James said: "The door will never close. James's remarks caused quite a bit of backlash in Los Angeles. James also praised Thunder general manager Sam Presti, which is considered another attack on Pelinka.
After the All-Star Game, Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke called on the Lakers to trade James, whose contract expires in 2023 and has no trade veto. James' agent, Rich Paul, and Pelinka then met to cool down the media coverage.
In Game 2 after the All-Star Game, Davis fell again, this time with a foot injury. That further amplifies the problems of James and the Lakers.
March 8: Fans shout "Westbrick" to Westbrook
Mrs. Westbrook: I am often harassed because of my husband's performance on the court, and you say that it is an expression of "truth", but what you call "truth" is a vulgar death threat to me and my family, which is unacceptable.
Wei Shao: I am 100% supportive of my wife and I understand her feelings. It's just a game, and when you criticize me for not playing well on the pitch, OK, but when it comes to my family, it's a personal vendetta.
"I used to go with it because these things don't bother me. But now it makes me a little angry. My wife and I attended a parent-teacher meeting for the kids and the teacher said: 'Noah, he's very proud of his last name, he writes it anywhere, he writes on anything.' He told everyone that his last name was Westbrook', and I was so touched that I thought to myself, 'I can't make anyone joke with my name anymore.' ’”
Vogel: He's part of our big family. Any time a player feels his family is affected, it's very noteworthy and should be handled with care. I want people to respect what he says.
Lakers home fans often applaud Westbrook. In a series of tweets posted, Westbrook's wife issued death threats to fans and felt about using the "Westbrick" moniker. Wei Shao said that his son did not like to hear his name being made fun of.
March 21: James says he's happy right now
James: I'm having a good time right now. It's so wonderful to play the game... Yes, I'm frustrated. I'm frustrated that we lost and that we could have done better but didn't. I mean, when I leave the court and come home, I just leave everything basketball behind and let's look ahead and get ready for the next game.
Vogel: Every time there's a game, he really wants to play unless he really can't play. Whether he's getting close to Abdul-Abdul-Jabbar or something. Having done all this in the 19th year of his career, I think that's the role model this league needs.
In the game against the Washington Wizards, James overtook Carl Malone to rise to second place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. James then scored another 38 points in front of cavaliers home fans, ranking first in the season. James said the Lakers' results this season will not affect his mentality. James' comments, and Vogel's praise, seemed to be a kind of sarcasm for other players, who sometimes selectively took a break.
March 31: The Lakers fall to 11th place
Vogel: We have to keep fighting, we have to give ourselves a chance. If we can all make it to the play-offs, I know we have a chance.
Wei Shao: I mean, it's self-explanatory.
Vogel has been stressing for weeks that the team still has a chance. That's true, but the team's confidence is getting less and less. Since the victory over the Nets on January 25, the team's record has reached 24 wins and 24 losses, and the Lakers have only won 7 and 21. Davis has missed more games than he has played. James missed 21 games and the Lakers made 6-15. This season has been a year of shattered dreams.
Originally written by Brian Windhorst
Compilation: Nanshan