The divorce between Russell Westbrook and his now-former Los Angeles Lakers team has been a long time coming. In fact, it sure did seem like the two had been married for more than roughly a season and a half.
Once Los Angeles dealt away Westbrook in a three-team trade earlier this month, the excruciating end was finally realized.
Westbrook ultimately landed with the Los Angeles Clippers on the buyout market after agreeing to part ways with the Utah Jazz. That union was made official Wednesday evening with Westbrook taking part in a press conference with the Clippers.
In what shouldn’t be seen as too much of a surprise, the former NBA MVP took some time to take a subtle shot at his former Lakers squad.
“That’s a huge part for any normal being. A lot of teammates and people that want you here is very important. To me, I value that a lot. Being somewhere people want you and embrace you. That meant a lot to me.”
Russell Westbrook on joining the Los Angeles Clippers
It shouldn’t be too hard to read between the lines here. Almost immediately after the Lakers traded for Westbrook ahead of the 2021-22 season, it became clear that he was not a fit with LeBron James and Co.
In fact, King James attempted to spearhead a trade of Westbrook at last season’s NBA trade deadline. It’s something that ended up coming to fruition earlier this month as Los Angeles landed D’Angelo Russell as a central piece in a three-team trade with the aforementioned Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves.
For his part, Westbrook has not been quiet about what ended up being a strained relationship with the Lakers and their star player. He took to the media after the end to an ugly 2021-22 season in Southern California to express his discontent.
“When I first got here, I just felt that I never was given a fair chance to be who I needed to be to better help this team,” Westbrook said back in April of 2022.
Even leading up to the 2022-23 season, several reports indicated that James did not want to run it back with Westbrook. After Los Angeles struggled ahead of the All-Star Break, everyone decided that a divorce was best.
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Russell Westbrook’s new lease on basketball life
The nine-time All-Star was visibly happy about heading to the Clippers while remaining in his native Southern California during Wednesday night’s press conference. He’s also excited about joining a team with championship aspirations.
“I think the most important part is making sure I can do what I can to help win games. The ultimate goal is to win a championship. Whatever’s asked of me, whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it to the best of my ability,” Westbrook told reporters.
- Russell Westbrook stats (2022-23): 15.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 7.5 APG, 42% shooting
Westbrook took to a Sixth Man role with the Lakers early this season and played much better than what we saw during the 2021-22 campaign. He’ll now fill that role with former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Paul George and the Clippers.
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For Los Angeles, this move comes with the team at 33-28 on the season and as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The hope is that Russ is able to help provide stability at a point guard position that has lacked it in recent years. At the very least, he seems to be embracing this new lease on life with the Clippers.