The Los Angeles Clippers have gone through major roster changes from the start of the 2023-24 season to now. Two former guards from this era are Russell Westbrook and Bones Hyland, who spent 18 months as teammates on the Clippers.
Hyland, who is now on the Minnesota Timberwolves, recalled an incredible story on a livestream of when Westbrook sent a message to Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue after Lue cut Westbrook’s minutes.
“There was one time, we were on the Clippers. He wasn’t playing like that, I think (Ty) Lue was cutting his minutes down… After the game, he said, ‘Yo Bizzy, I ain’t gon’ lie man, they got me f***ed up. I’m finna walk in this b***h with my Top 75 jacket on and ask these ***** y’all see this s**t? Stop playing with me.’ I was in tears, bro. That s**t had me crying man. Y’all don’t realize how funny this ***** is.”
“That’s one ***** I really respect. That’s really my brother. I’ll call him when I got a camp or some s**t and he’ll answer. That’s my man. He is so funny though, I wish y’all could really meet the *****.”
Bones Hyland tells a funny story of how Russ told him he was finna walk into the Clippers locker room with his Top 75 jacket on after Ty Lue only played him 10 minutes one game
“He said yo Bizzy they got me fcked up. I’m finna walk in this b*tch with my Top 75 jacket on like… pic.twitter.com/USMcxGnQbO
— ᴇʀᴀ 🕷️ (@TheWestbrookEra) March 26, 2025
Some people might call it corny, but wearing the Top-75 jacket is an incredible flex. It might not hold a lot of weight in the present because Westbrook isn’t the same player he was in his prime, but it was a way to remind everyone of the status he’s earned in the world of basketball. That was warranted, but it’s hard to say if Lue’s decision to cut Westbrook’s minutes wasn’t warranted.
Westbrook was solid for a veteran minimum on the Clippers, averaging 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists over his stint. He was having a similar impact to what we’re seeing him have now on the Denver Nuggets this season, but the addition of James Harden last season complicated matters.
Harden’s joining made Westbrook’s role on the team much smaller, which is presumably when Lue decided to cut his minutes, demoting him from being a starter during this time. Westbrook’s time with the team ended after the season, as he left in free agency to team up with Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets.
The grass is greener for Westbrook now, who’s averaging 13.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on the Nuggets with a certified rotational role.
Hyland has been on the Clippers since 2023. He was traded in February alongside Terance Mann to acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Atlanta Hawks, who waived him before he signed with the Timberwolves. Bones averaged 7.8 points over his Clippers tenure, remaining a fringe rotational player throughout his time.
Hyland is fighting to prove he deserves to stay in the NBA, averaging 6.5 points this season and playing only garbage time in three games since being traded.
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