Austin Reaves On Russell Westbrook: “One Of The Best Teammates I’ve Ever Had”

Austin Reaves had only good things to say about Russell Westbrook while reflecting on the former MVP's tough stint with the Lakers.

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Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers have looked like an entirely different team since they traded Russell Westbrook away in February, ending a tough 18-month stint for the former MVP with the Lakers.

Austin Reaves‘ rookie season was Westbrook’s debut season with LA. Reaves only had good things to say about Westbrook as a teammate and person while talking with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. As a person, you can’t get much better. I got COVID in December of my rookie year in Minnesota. He reached out 3 or 4 times, asked if I need anything, and offered to send me stuff, whatever I needed. As a person, couldn’t get better. Same as a teammate. He was always empowering everybody to be better and do better and want more. As you said, he gets a bad rap. I don’t really understand why.”

Westbrook averaged 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists with the Lakers, while the team had a record of 56-74 in games that he played. 

His lack of success can be attributed to the Lakers being a bad fit for him, as he has excelled in a guard role with the Clippers, averaging 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists in the playoffs for them.


The Lakers Moved On Very Well

The Westbrook-Lakers situation has ended pretty well for both sides. Russ isn’t out of the league like some people expected him to be. He gets to stay in his hometown and play with a former teammate like Paul George on the Clippers. The Lakers ran to the Western Conference Finals after the Westbrook trade and they’re looking stacked for the future. 

This offseason has been a homerun from the Lakers, adding depth in virtually every position with solid 3-and-D players. They have to maximize the team they’ve built for themselves and push for a championship, provided LeBron James and Anthony Davis can enjoy relatively healthy seasons.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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