Back in 2023, the Lakers pulled off a three-team trade, sending Russell Westbrook to Minnesota and Utah. The headlines weren’t just about the trade, it was ESPN’s Dave McMenamin’s dramatic metaphor that caught attention: “removing a vampire from the locker room.” The phrase stuck, casting Westbrook as a shadow quietly sapping energy from a star-studded roster. Friends and family pushed back hard, and ESPN eventually deleted the post. Recently, another supporter stepped forward to challenge the narrative, putting the rumors ESPN sparked under the microscope.

Speaking on The Hoop Genius Podcast , former Lakers head coach Darvin Ham addressed the chatter from Russell Westbrook’s time in Los Angeles. He framed the comments as just another ripple in the sea of social media nega

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