Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty
The Los Angeles Lakers opened up the 2021-22 NBA season as favorites to potentially win it all in the west after trading for Russell Westbrook and adding some other key pieces from teams past. However, the new-look Lake Show might have to talk some things out behind closed doors after big men Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard got into it on the bench.
The Lakers are just two seasons out of winning the NBA championship and any team with LeBron James is a shoo-in to be a contender for the title. However, the young NBA season has proven already that what looks good on paper might not be good in reality. It should also be noted that the Lakers’ bench is a bit depleted as Talen Horton-Tucker, Kendrick Nunn, Wayne Ellington, and Trevor Ariza are all nursing various injuries so the team isn’t at full strength.
During Friday night’s (October 22) contest between last season’s Western Conference champs in the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers never looked in sync and King James’ usual heroics would not be enough. Westbrook also had a bit of an off night as the Suns dominated much of the game and it was never close. During a timeout, Davis and Howard began scuffling and had to be separated by their teammates. In fairness, the men claimed that there’s no beef and it was just a little competitive frustration being worked out on the court.
While AD and Howard might be good to go, Rajon Rondo, thought to be one of the glue players of the team, made a questionable finger gun gesture at a fan sitting courtside. The fan slapped his hand out his face and was ejected from the arena. It isn’t known what was said by the fan that prompted Rondo to make the gesture, but it certainly has NBA Twitter talking.
The season is still just starting although few thought the Lakers would begin their quest for the title winless after all the hype and big names added. Check out the reactions from Twitter below.
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1.
Dwight Howard and AD got into a physical altercation on the bench…in my 42 years of being associated with the Lakers organization, I’ve never seen something like that smh
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 23, 2021
3.
Dwight and AD fighting
Lebron not trying
Lakers fighting each other
Lakers down 30
Rondo finger gun gesture at a fanEverything is fine… pic.twitter.com/0Fo4NNlbq3
— CarlosStory (@CarlosxcStory) October 23, 2021
4.
AD and Dwight fighting on the bench. Rondo pulling a Gilbert arenas in game at a fan and we’re only 2 games into the season lmaoo pic.twitter.com/GIgzwgwAMK
— jw (@iam_johnw2) October 23, 2021
5.
Sub Rondo in so he can do this again pic.twitter.com/FpjSGRKjzE
—
(@TheWestbrookEra) October 23, 2021
6.
“Rondo kicks it out to Westbrook” pic.twitter.com/giJDMRkj27
— Max Hodder (@maxhodder) October 23, 2021
7.
Dwight: “I should’ve been in the NBA 75 list..”
Rondo: “Over who”
Dwight: **Looks at AD from his peripherals**
— The Voice Of The Boston Celtics (@yamzislife) October 23, 2021
8.
so Rondo does a gun motion in fans face at courtside at the Lakers home game and the fan slaps his hand and gets removed…was the fan supposed to take that https://t.co/zatTmjaH55
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) October 23, 2021
9.
Teammates fighting each other
Fans fighting Rondo
Bron taking possessions off
Westbrook… well
Hug a Lakers fan tonight, y’all. pic.twitter.com/pFKvkp3kAI
— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) October 23, 2021
10.
The Lakers are 0-12 since Andre Drummond did this pic.twitter.com/qOSfAQ0XGI
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 23, 2021
11.
Kuzma, KCP, Trez and Caruso are all 2-0.
The Lakers are 0-2. pic.twitter.com/JaVDXW56Qu
— StatMuse (@statmuse) October 23, 2021
(@TheWestbrookEra)