"LeBron’s teammates became a scapegoat?" - Celtics broadcaster takes jab at LeBron James during Russell Westbrook's Nuggets debut game

After spending a season and a half with LeBron James and the LA Lakers, followed by a brief stint with the Clippers, Russell Westbrook made his debut for the Denver Nuggets on Friday. His first game with the Nuggets came against the Boston Celtics in the opening matchup of this year's NBA Abu Dhabi games.

During the game, Celtics' television analyst Brian Scalabrine explained that he hopes to see Russell Westbrook do well in games against the LA Lakers this season given the unfair criticism he faced for the Lakers' shortcomings. Scalabrine's broadcasting partner Drew Carter then chimed in, taking a jab at LeBron James.

Carter joked that this isn't the first time that we've seen one of LeBron James' teammates become the scapegoat for the team's shortcomings.

Brian Scalabrine sparked the conversation, saying:

"I'll tell you what, I am rooting for him to make like nine threes against the Lakers because he got a lot of heat for that, that was a disaster team. And he got all the heat for that whole thing. So I'm kind of hoping that he can make a bunch of threes against that team."

Scalabrine's broadcasting partner then said:

"You're telling me one of LeBron's teammates became a scapegoat out of nowhere?"

Check out the entire exchange below:

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"I was playing not my position," - Russell Westbrook explains past teams haven't put him in the right position to succeed after stint alongside LeBron James in LA

After spending a season and a half with the LA Clippers after parting ways with the LA Lakers, reports emerged this offseason that Westbrook was unlikely to stay with the Clippers.

Ultimately, the team wound up trading him to the Utah Jazz, who waived Westbrook, opening the door so the former MVP could sign with the Denver Nuggets, who reportedly had an interest in acquiring Westbrook for weeks before the move was finalized.

After joining the Nuggets, Russell Westbrook spoke with media members following practice earlier in the week, where he spoke about the Nuggets' x-factor: Coach Michael Malone. While speaking with media members, Westbrook explained that Malone is using him properly, whereas previous teams he's been with haven't.

Although he didn't specifically name-drop LeBron James' LA Lakers, many fans believe the comment was in regard to Darvin Ham and the Lakers.

“To be honest, it was unique. They just didn’t put me in a position to make it unique.

"I was in a position where I was playing not my position. And being able to be here, and Coach Malone allowing me to be able to use my speed, use my transition skill to be able to make other guys better, makes the game easy for everybody surrounding me. That’s what I love to do best.”

Russell Westbrook immediately hit the ground running in his first preseason game with the team on Friday morning, logging 12 points, eight assists and four rebounds over just 19 minutes of play.

The team will then compete in a rematch with the Celtics on Sunday in the league's final Abu Dhabi game of the year.