Westbrook amid persistent struggles with Lakers: 'I'm not a quitter'

Russell Westbrook knows the Los Angeles Lakers' season hasn't gone according to plan in 2021-22, but the guard isn't giving up hope on both his play and the team's fortunes turning around.

"My role and what I'm doing has changed every single night. So I'm just trying to figure that out as I'm playing and to be able to benefit and help my team," Westbrook told ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk following the Lakers' fourth-straight loss, a 132-111 drubbing at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

"But my expectations are still the same. I'm not a quitter. It's not in my genes. I don't quit, regardless of what the hell is going on," Westbrook continued. "I'm going to fight to the end, and if it don't work, that's cool, too. I can live with the results. But I'm never going to give up or give in because of a little struggle that's happening this time of the year."

Westbrook is in the midst of his worst offensive season in more than a decade. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 18.1 points, his lowest mark since the 2009-10 campaign, while his 7.3 assists per game pale in comparison to the league-leading 11.7 dimes he averaged last season. His effective field-goal percentage of 46.3% is his lowest since 2014-15.

Head coach Frank Vogel has also benched Westbrook multiple times in the fourth quarter this season, something the 33-year-old has publicly voiced his displeasure about.

Vogel acknowledged the team has "talked about everything" when asked whether he's considered bringing Westbrook off the bench given his disappointing production as a starter.

Los Angeles is running out of time to mount a late-season push. The Lakers (27-35) sit ninth in the Western Conference with 20 regular-season games remaining.