Thad Foucher and Russell Westbrook are ending their professional relationship over “irreconcilable differences,” Foucher told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Foucher, who has represented Westbrook for 14 years, said he was “proud” of their partnership and all they had accomplished.
“A highly successful 2008 draft, a super-max contract, and the only renegotiation-and-extend max contract in history; I also supported Russell throughout his rise into a prominent fashion industry figure and recently orchestrated three successive trades on Russell’s behalf — culminating with the trade to his hometown Los Angeles Lakers,” said Foucher. “Each time, teams gave up valuable players and assets to acquire Russell – and each time, a new organization embraced his arrival. We did it together with grace and class.”
Westbrook’s time in LA has been anything but a storybook ending with LA missing the playoffs after being considered title favorites at the start of last season.
Rumors have run rampant during the offseason on whether the nine-time All-Star will stay or go, which caused a rift between Westbrook and his agent.
“Now, with a possibility of a fourth trade in four years, the marketplace is telling the Lakers they must add additional value with Russell in any trade scenario. And even then, such a trade may require Russell to immediately move on from the new team via buyout,” said Foucher. “My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell’s value, and his best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered. Russell is a first-ballot Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame player and will prove that again before he is retired.”
Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from behind the arc for LA.
“Unfortunately, irreconcilable differences exist as to his best pathway forward, and we are no longer working together. I wish Russell and his family the very best,” said Foucher.
The LA Times reported that Westbrook has never requested a trade, and he opted into the final year of his contract for $47 million this coming season with the Lakers.