Russell Westbrook is harshly brought back to reality

Russell Westbrook has been one of the best players in the NBA since he entered the league back in 2008-09. However, he has been in decline since he reached his highest level in 2016-17, when he won the regular season MVP. Last season he put on some good numbers but he was far from his best level. And now NBA analyst Shannon Sharpe has brought him back to reality.

The Lakers disaster of a season last year wasn't all Westbrook's fault. True, he had his worst season since his second year in the league, but the team's best players, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, missed a bunch of games due to injury. Without their top players, Westbrook wasn't able to carry the team to the playoffs.

More Lakers Fans

The two big reasons why the Lakers traded for Patrick Beverley

This is what two-time Lakers champion thinks of Russell Westbrook

This is why Shannon Sharpe believes Westbrook should understand what kind of player he is and what he is not. "He's the third-best player on the team. He's not going to be the primary decision-maker, he's not going to be the primary ball-handler, he's not going to be the first or second scoring option. So, what role is he going to accept? He only sees himself as a younger version of himself. He doesn't see the man that's aging."

The Lakers have been trying to trade Russell Westbrook away since the end of last season. So far, there has been no news of a team interested in trading for the former MVP. As days go by, the Lakers should start planning how to use the player to win more games.

Support for Russell Westbrook

Last year, Westbrook was a shell of himself. That's undeniable. But the Lakers fans went too far with their attacks on the former MVP. Now LeBron James and Jeanie Buss went to his defense, as the ‘King’ said that he can't wait to see him go off next year and Buss explained why she believes Russ was the best Lakers player last season