Russell Westbrook had hinted at the dysfunction at various points earlier in the season, but there was no holding back this time.
There was no uncertainty in his phrasing, no need to read into his comments in order to extrapolate any hidden meaning this time. No, as Westbrook sat in front of assembled media for the final time of the 2021-22 season for his exit interview, he left little doubt about, well... much of anything (beyond him picking up his $47 million player option, which, honestly, we all knew would happen too).
Among the talking points in a Q&A that laid bare the sad state of affairs between him and his hometown Lakers, Russ laid blame in almost every direction but his own.