Westbrook is one of the most talented and physically gifted athletes of all time. But he’s a ball-dominant player whose style may not exactly suit what the Lakers needed at that time, which was shooting and defense.

Fast-forward to today and it’s clear that the experiment has been unsuccessful. And, according to former NBA player Jalen Rose, it all has to do with the fact that he can’t coexist with LeBron James on the court.

NBA News: Jalen Rose Explains Why Russell Westbrook Has Struggled With The Lakers

“When Russell Westbrook is at his best, he needs the basketball and he needs to dominate the basketball,” Rose said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up. “That allows him to get a rhythm to play at his maximum.”

“When LeBron James has the basketball, that means Russ is off the ball. He’s not a spot-up shooter, he’s not gonna do much cutting and so he can’t be as effective,” Rose added. “His game has to be energy and when we talk about the top teams in the West, let me tell you they actually really need from Russ. Defense at the point of attack. The top teams in the West have a backcourt of CP3 and Devin Booker, the Splash Brothers in Golden State and you got just mentioned Ja Morant.”

This is why some people have argued that Westbrook would be better off the bench rather than starting. He’d get to run the second unit and get some rhythm by getting the rock on his hands rather than playing off the ball.

Whatever is the case, the Lakers have regretted their decision of trading for Westbrook as much as he’s regret suiting up for them, so it’s only a matter of time before this marriage ends up in a divorce.

Truth to be told, sports analysts have to put a lot of work, sometimes around the clock, to provide the expert’s input and entertainment we all need at home. Obviously, we may not always agree with what they have to say.

But, luckily for those guys, they get paid a lot of money for all the hard work they do. That’s why today, we’re going to let you know about how much your favorite sports analysts make:

25. Doris Burke – $400,000

Doris Burke paved the way for many other women that came after her. Hergreat input and knowledge of the game of basketball have made her one of the most respected voices when it comes to discussing hoops.

Fortunately for basketball fans, ESPNextended hercontract after two decades of hard work in the sidelines but her’s also proven to be an outstanding asset when it comes to play-by-play analysis.

24. Jeff Van Gundy – $1 million

Jeff Van Gundy knows basketball. I mean, he literally lives for it, and he’s one of the smartest analysts out there. Well, that’s pretty obvious considering he enjoyed quite a career in the sidelines as an NBA coach.

Thus, Van Gundy constantly gives us a different perspective when it comes to everything related to the NBA. He’s been sought after to resume his coaching career but he’s way more comfortable in the booth, apparently.

23. Terry Bradshaw – $1 million

Terry Bradshaw is more known for his legendary time with the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he hasn’t lost the slightest passion or energy now that he’s serving as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports.

Bradshaw will always be heard. He’ll make sure about it. Obviously, that has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way but hey, he’s been getting a huge salary to do that for years. He’s an entertainer, for sure.

22.Rachel Nichols – $1.5 million

Just like Doris Burke, Rachel Nichols has made a name for herself in an industry you don’t find many women. She’s not afraid to speak her mind and became an invaluable breath of fresh air in ESPN’s The Jump.

Moreover, Nichols is a top-notch content creator and color commentator thanks to her well-prepared interviews with some of the best hoopers in the history of the game.She definitely deserves a lot of credit.

21. Jay Bilas – $2 million

Jay Bilas is the guy to talk to when you want to hear about what’s happening in college basketball. So, if you’ve filled your March Madness bracket – and we know you have – you’ve had to tune in to Bilas more than once.

Bilas isn’t exactly beloved by those who hate Duke (half of the nation, probably) because of his past with the Blue Devils, but he’s the biggest specialist when it comes to drawing up plays and bringing a true NBA-kind of analysis to NCAA hoops.

20. Marv Albert – $2 million

Marv Albert may be known as ‘The Voice of Basketball’ but don’t let that fool you. This guy can literally do it all, as he’s shown by his presence in the Super Bowl and the Stanley Cup as well.

Albert is the ultimate broadcaster when it comes to letting you know exactly what’s happening on the court. He’s got a great feel for details, and even though he may not bring much analysis to the table, his versatility makes him one of the best of all time.

19. Gary Neville – $2.5 million

The former Manchester United and England legend has changed the cleats for a headset and he’s now one of Europe’s most respected pundits not only because of his knowledge of the game but also because of how he talks about it.

Gary Neville is a great analyst but he’s also a tough guy. He will let everybody know a piece of his mind whenever, wherever. He’s turned Sky Sports’ broadcasts into top-notch entertainment for soccer fans all over the world.

18. Jalen Rose – $3 million

Former Michigan and NBAstandout Jalen Rose took his talents to the booth and he’s made a name for himself for one thing, and that’s keeping it real. Rose cuts to the chase and provides the input of a former player most analysts often take for granted.

Rose won’t hesitate to step on anybody’s toes. Everybody must be quiet and pay attention to his insight or he’ll snap. Also, his show Get Up! ESPN has been a massive success since it started airing in 2018.

17. Cris Collinsworth – $4million

If you want to get a true input about what’s truly happening on the gridiron you need to tune in to Cris Collinsworth on NBC. He grinds like no other analyst by watching even more film that when he was actually playing in the NFL.

Collinsworth is perhaps one of the most respected broadcasters and analysts in sports. He combines his experience with a thorough analysis and great respect for the game of football. He’s must-watch television for NFL fans.

16. Kirk Herbstreit – $4million

Kirk Herbstreit is another example of a former player bringing his passion to the booth. His enthusiasm for the game is quite contagious so he’s become a must for college football fans any given Saturday.

Herbstreit’s work on ABC’s Saturday night broadcast has made him a fan-favorite in no time. There’s simply no one in the nation more invested in the NCAAF in national television right now, so he’s likely going to climb the salary ladder in no time.

15. Jim Nantz – $5 million

Most young fans may not be fond of Jim Nantz but I’m pretty sure your old man loves him. I mean, he’s been around the NFL for almost two decades as well as covering every major golf event in the meantime.

Nantz has earned every penny of his paycheck for his charisma and hard work. It’s never easy thriving in one sport, let alone two, so that’s why CBS has kept him around for that long and likely many more years to come.

14. Dan Patrick – $5 million

Dan Patrick is one of the most respected people in sports because of the impeccable trajectory he’s built. From Sports Illustrated to NBC and ESPN, he’s always brought a high-level analysis and discussion.

If you’re an athlete, you know you’ve made it when you’re on Dan Patrick’s radio show. That’s how big he is in the industry and that’s why he’s been an endless source of content for sports media since day one.

13. Skip Bayless – $6 million

If we talk about polarizing people we can’t leave Skip Bayless outside of the conversation. I mean, he’s arguably the sports’ internet community most hated guy, yet his shows are always a massive success. Why? because of his hot takes.

Bayless will always double down on whatever nonsense opinion he wakes up with. He’ll defend his stance with passion, biased stories, and even facts from time to time. He does it mostly for the show, or I choose to believe that, for sure.

12. Bob Costas – $7 million

Bob Costas is Mr. Sports. He’s done it all over his long and successful career and he’s the kind of guy even your grandma knows who he is. He’s beloved and respected, which doesn’t happen often in this industry.

Costas made a name for himself for going beyond what’s happening on the court and providing in-depth analysis and interesting information about the context of every sporting event he hosts.

11. Nick Faldo – $8 million

Nick Faldo is one of the sports broadcasting industry wealthiest men. He’s the bad boy of golf, if you will, which is saying a lot considering there’s that other guy named Tiger Woods, you may have heard about him.

Faldo became famous – and infamous – on national television for constantly bashing Woods, even when he was the nation’s biggest star. Other than that, he provides great input on everything golf-related as a legend of the game, and that’s why he’s earned that much.

10. Chris Berman – $8million

Chris Berman has been with ESPN pretty much since the dawn of the company, so perhaps you’d feel like he should be earning a lot more money, considering he’s given his entire career to the network.

‘Boomer’ Berman has done it all for ESPN, from MLB broadcasts to Sunday NFL Countdown to hosting Sports Center and calling Stanley Cup games. He’s perhaps the most charismatic guy on this list, so c’mon man, pay the guy!

9. Shaquille O’Neal – $10 million

Back in the day,Shaquille O’Nealwas one of the most dominating players on the basketball court. He succeeded practically anywhere he went and built on his fantastic career to make a career as an analyst.

Shaqis now one of the most prominent voices on TV for basketball fans, as hisinsight is attractive for anyone who loves the sport and also shares hilarious moments with Chucky on screen.

8. Charles Barkley – $10 million

Charles Barkley is exceptionally polarizing and that’s why he’s made for television. You know he’s trying to pick your brains, you try and not get angry about his comments, but he still succeeds. The best part of it? You never turn off the TVor change the channel.

Barkley is a trash-talker. His takes are often biased and poorly backed up, as he’s more of an ‘eye-test’ kind of person than a guy that’ll look at the stat sheet. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny that he’ll crack you up from time to time with his comments.

7. Mike Tirico – $10.5 million

Mike Tirico sure knows a thing or two about sports. I mean, we’ve seen him and heard him hosting the Olympics for NBC and he sounds like he’s an expert on every single sport that has ever been invented.

However, he’s clearly more suited for analyzing football, as he’s shown during his decade’s long work in Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football. He’s been involved in some controversies as well.

6. Stephen A. Smith – $13million

Stephen A. Smith isn’t human. He can’t be. I mean, if he were, when would he sleep? He’s a guy that’s literally all over the sports industry 24/7/365. He may not even have a lunch break with that many shows, interviews, and social media rants.

Stephen A has become ESPN’s main anchor over the last couple of years. His shenanigans and hilarious reactions made him an instant fan favorite but more than that, he’s a man that knows what he’s talking about and won’t hesitate to let you know about it.

5. Joe Buck – $15 million

If you follow any MLB or NFL meme related accounts on social media, then you definitely know who Joe Buck is, as he’s been the main target of mockery and dissing in sports for over a decade.

However, he just doesn’t get the respect and praise he’s due. ‘Now here’s a guy’ that has been a perennial play-by-play analyst in both the World Series and the Super Bowl for twenty years. He excels at both sports and often provides thorough and non-biased analysis.

4. Tony Romo – $17 million

Tony Romo had a career full of ups and downs, injuries, and infamous meltdowns in clutch situations. However, he’s proven to be a master at reading the game of football at the highest level.

His ability to call plays long before they happened made CBS go all-in on Romo as their main guy on the booth from now on, thus handing him a huge paycheck. To put this in context, he never made more than 8 million on his career until his final four years in the NFL.

3. Troy Aikman – $18 million

The legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback is quite an authorized voice when talking about football, so there’s no wonder why ESPNturned their attention to him as one of the most beloved guys in America’s Team’s history.

Troy Aikman provides his expert insight on every single play and he’s been a part of their broadcasting crew for over a decade. He’ll even argue with Joe Buck on live television, which only makes people love him even more.

2. Jim Rome – $30 million

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. I couldn’t believe it either, but yes, Jim Rome is making 30 million dollars per year. That’s how good he is, that’s how much he’s meant to CBS throughout the course of his career.

Rome covers every sport and can discuss them at a high level, for sure, and has had some of the most iconic interviews in recent sports history. That’s why some consider him the ‘most respected voice in the world of sports broadcasting’, although he’s had his fair share of controversies as well.

1 – Tom Brady – $37.5 million

Tom Brady has yet to begin his new job after retiring from football, but the legendary quarterback has already secured a deal that will makehim the highest-paid sports analyst of all time.

The former Patriots and Buccaneers signal-caller struck a 10-year,$375 million deal with FOX that will see him make a mind-boggling $37.5 million per year – making more than mostNFL players. Not bad at all, right?