National Basketball Association

Is Kobe trying to recruit Westbrook to Lakers ... and is it working?

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:38 p.m. ET

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Oklahoma City Thunder star Russell Westbrook took some criticism nationally after taking 43 shots against Indiana on Sunday. He scored 54 points, but the Thunder lost to the Pacers, leading some to say that Westbrook should have gotten his teammates more involved.

Coming to his defense was none other than Kobe Bryant, who took to Twitter to support Westbrook's approach in an important game. Kobe's been coming to a lot of stars' defense lately, but the gesture resonated with Westbrook.

"That's my guy. That's my guy. That's my guy," Westbrook said. "Definitely Kobe is a good friend of mine and somebody that being in LA I was able to watch and see become a Hall of Famer and one of the best players to play the game. It's an honor to be able to see somebody like that to be able to have your back and support you."

Westbrook played high school ball at nearby Lawndale Leuzinger and starred at UCLA, so he'd be an ideal fit to take over Bryant's mantle with the Lakers. But Westbrook's contract with the Thunder runs until 2017. Bryant likely will be done by then.

Still, that hasn't stopped Snoop Dogg from trying to recruit Westbrook.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.