Patrick Beverley blames media for Russell Westbrook's retirement

Russell Westbrook announced his retirement at age 37, despite averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.7 assists over 64 games last season. His former Lakers teammate, Patrick Beverley, stated on "The Pat Bev Show" that the media impacted perceptions of Westbrook, leading to diminished faith from team executives. Westbrook reportedly rejected offers from the Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings due to concerns about his role, particularly not wanting to take a backseat to rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. Beverley expressed regrets about Westbrook's decision to retire, observing that he still had game left and questioned why other players found team spots while Westbrook did not.

• 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — “The Media Killed His Game”: Russell Westbrook’s Former Lakers Teammate Claims Narratives Led to GMs and Presidents Losing Faith in ex-MVP