https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lakers-news-russell-westbrook-refused-to-regularly-set-screens-for-lebron-james-rm94#:~:text=Lakers%20News%3A%20Russell%20Westbrook%20Refused%20to%20Regularly%20Set%20Screens%20for%20LeBron%20James,-Lakers%20forward%20LeBron&text=Lakers%20players%20Russell%20Westbrook%2C%20LeBron,same%20page%20for%20championships%20aspirations.

Newly acquired Westbrook had a conversation with James after their first game together in what may have looked like a discussion over the amount of screens Westbrook was setting (quotes via Zach Lowe, The Lowe Post Podcast)

"You can tell they had a team meeting about Russ screening for LeBron before the second game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies. Screened 8 times for Lebron in that game, it worked pretty well."

James is well known for getting on-ball screens to help create more driving lanes to the basket, disrupt the defense to pick up James at the 3-point line while simultaneously providing open passing lanes. Westbrook did not shoot great from the 3-point line so having him roll after picks seemed ideal.

"After that game, here are the number of ball screens Russ set in the 6 subsequent games, this is from Second Spectrum 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, and 1. He did not set more than 2 in a basketball game in which the professional Los Angeles Lakers were involved until March. He didn’t set more than 4 in any other game in the entire season."


>Or he could at least *attempt* to set screens, to defend, to
>backcut, to do things he never had to do when he was in his
>late-20s when he could be a net positive basketball player by
>sheer talent, athleticism, speed, and will. Now he has to do
>those things at this age if he wants to contribute to winning
>basketball.
>
>If he does those things, he's obviously a player whose talent
>and experience could prove useful. Melo adapted to a
>lower-usage role when it seemed like he was going to be out of
>the league. Russ can do the same if he wants to stick around.
>An older player needs to adapt to stay in the league.


Russ about to fade into Bolivian.