Lakers’ Russell Westbrook is ‘grateful’ as the record books continue

NEW YORK — lebron james he is not the only one Los Angeles Lakers player making remarkable moves in the record books while the team remains pedestrian in the standings.

guard Russell Westbrook (8,972) approved Gary Payton (8,966) for No. 10 on the NBA’s all-time assists list during the Lakers 121-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.

“If someone had told me 15 years ago, 20 years ago that you’d be in the top 10 in assists, I would have looked at them like they were crazy,” Westbrook said after finishing with 17 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. “In the NBA, I never dreamed of being in this position, or getting to the point where I’m standing with some of the greats. I’m truly thankful and grateful for the opportunity to continue playing at the highest level and I don’t give a damn “that’s for granted”.

Westbrook was asked if he had talked trash to the notoriously high-powered Payton when he passed him on the all-time list.

“I’m pretty sure whatever I said, he would say again,” Westbrook said. “I’m not a big trash talker, I just like to compete. But I’m sure in his day, he would have talked some trash, and I’d have gotten back at him.”

Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr. marveled at Westbrook’s passing skills.

“His ability to get the ball out of his hands so quickly [is impressive]” Brown said of his first Washington Wizards teammate “Russ will be in mid-move, and he’ll just shoot you.”

However, it was another mixed night overall for Westbrook. While the league’s all-time triple-double leader was closing in on his stat line, he also shot 5-for-15 from the field with six turnovers. In the fourth quarter, he was 1-for-4 from the field and 1-for-4 from the foul line with two turnovers, and LA was outscored by seven in the nine minutes he was in the game as Brooklyn ran away with the win .

Lakers coach Darvin Ham made it a point to recognize Westbrook for the assists in the locker room after the game, despite the loss.

“Everybody gave him a round of applause. That’s one hell of a feat,” Ham said. “But again, we play the right way things like this will happen. Eventually Bron will eclipse the scoring record and Russ just moved into the top 10 all-time assist leaders. Those things are great. They’re huge shots .in the arm for our franchise and for those guys and for us as a team, those guys individually.

“But again, we just have to go out there and play.”

The loss dropped the Lakers to 23-28, with a lack of consistency continuing in their overall play.

“I mean we’ve seen it when we’re able to play the right way and we know what it takes,” Westbrook said. “It’s up to us honestly.”

James i Anthony Davis Saturday night due to recent foot injuries, but the Lakers expect both to return Tuesday against the New York Knicks. swingman Austin Reavesout since Jan. 4 with a hamstring injury, could also return to the lineup during LA’s five-game road trip, making the full roster for the first time in a long time.

Thomas Bryantwho was a bright spot against the Nets with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds, said acknowledging Westbrook’s career success after the game was a good way to turn the page and start looking forward with optimism

“This is a positive start,” Bryant said. “Tenth all-time. Top 10. Let’s go now. That’s pretty awesome right there. It’s a good positivity for the next game. We can’t really hang our heads in this one. We’ve got some positivity. .”