The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the most storied histories in the NBA, but their recent track record with veteran players is a mix of incredible highs and damaging lows. While LeBron James led a group of experienced players to a championship in 2020, not every star who wears the purple and gold has a similar fairytale ending.
In fact, some leave with their reputations in tatters, a situation one former player is now calling out.
Why Does Patrick Beverley Believe the Lakers Tarnish Veteran Reputations?
For every success story like Dwight Howard, Avery Bradley, and Rajon Rondo from that 2020 championship team, there’s a cautionary tale like Carmelo Anthony or Russell Westbrook. These players arrived in Los Angeles with high expectations but didn’t achieve the same level of success. Westbrook, in particular, became a target of intense criticism from Lakers fans after his departure, with many labeling him as over the hill and “washed.” However, his performance since leaving the team has proven those critics wrong.
Former Lakers guard Patrick Beverley recently tackled this exact topic on his “Hoopin’ N’ Hollerin‘” podcast. Beverley didn’t hold back, publicly criticizing the organization and its fanbase for what he sees as a pattern of disrespect toward veteran players, specifically pointing to how Westbrook was treated. He believes the franchise has a history of damaging the reputations of stars who come through the system.
“What happened to Melo? Rondo played for the Lakers. What happened to him? Dwight played for the Lakers…” he said, listing former players whose time in Los Angeles ended on a sour note.
Pat Bev thinks the Lakers ruin the reputations of future Hall of Famers toward the end of their careers.
“What happened to Melo? Rondo played for the Lakers. What happened to him? Dwight played for the Lakers…”
(🎥 @hoopinghollerin )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 14, 2025
Although Beverley didn’t name specific individuals within the Lakers organization, his point was clear. When a player underperforms, the immense pressure and expectations that come with playing for the Lakers can be incredibly damaging. This led to a relentless social media campaign against Westbrook after he left, with fans constantly criticizing him and bestowing him with the unflattering nickname “Westbrick.”
As someone who has also played for the organization, Beverley sees through the noise. He believes that the intense spotlight of playing for the Lakers, combined with a fan base that is quick to assign blame, ultimately tarnishes players’ legacies. Westbrook’s recent performance provides a strong counterargument to his critics. In the 2025-26 season, he signed with the Sacramento Kings and has quickly shown he can still compete at a high level, averaging 15 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds per game through his first 12 games.
The disrespect of Russell Westbrook’s game and longevity needs to be stopped. He’s still one of the most complete and impactful players in the entire NBA. Numbers don’t lie, but people oddly choose suddenly that the numbers don’t matter when it’s Russ. https://t.co/9HK4T4IHJu
— JDJackson (@TheWestWolfPod) November 14, 2025
Fans of other teams are also taking notice of this lingering disrespect, which has followed Westbrook for years despite his consistent success before and after his time in Los Angeles. Given his dominance throughout his career, he should be remembered as a star.
While the narrative has started to shift following successful stints with the Clippers and Nuggets, his red-hot start in Sacramento shows that the negative impact of a difficult tenure with the Lakers can linger long after a player has moved on.
