Tension between Russell Westbrook and LeBron James during their time together on the Los Angeles Lakers has been talked about before — but a new report adds another layer to their rocky partnership.
According to Yaron Weitzman of The Ringer, an awkward encounter involving actor Will Smith at the Lakers’ practice facility early in the 2022–23 season made things even worse between the two stars.
Smith had been invited to speak to the team, but before he arrived, LeBron James and Anthony Davis reportedly walked out of the room. “Y’all got this,” James said as they left, according to the report.
When Russell Westbrook questioned what was going on, teammate Patrick Beverley told him bluntly, “Them two guys can do whatever they want. They won a championship.”
Moments later, then-head coach Darvin Ham brought James and Davis back so Smith could address the full team. During the talk, James took the lead, repeatedly asking questions and turning what was supposed to be a short, 30-minute session into nearly an hour.
That didn’t sit well with Westbrook, who later told a teammate, “I hate that fake s***,” referring to what he saw as LeBron’s showmanship.
The incident captured the tension that defined Westbrook’s short and stormy run in Los Angeles. The 2021–22 season was a disaster for the Lakers — they missed the playoffs completely with Westbrook running the point.
A year later, Los Angeles traded him away and rebounded to reach the Western Conference Finals. But back-to-back early playoff exits in 2024 and 2025 have kept the franchise searching for consistency.
Now, as the Lakers prepare for the 2025–26 season — with LeBron sidelined and Luka Dončić set for his first full year in purple and gold — the team is hoping for a smoother chapter. Their season tips off Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors.
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