The past few years have been a blur for Russell Westbrook, who went from All-Star point guard to scapegoat for the Los Angeles Lakers.
But Russ has found redemption with his new team, the Clippers, who are giving him a real chance to succeed.
Speaking on Russ and his impact, Kawhi Leonard made sure to show his appreciation for the former MVP.
“Just having a Hall-of-Fame point guard on the floor. He brings energy to the team, he brings pace,” said Kawhi. “He plays both ends of the floor, he rebounds the ball. He’s been doing a great job.”
Kawhi Leonard on the impact of Russell Westbrook:
“Just having a Hall-of-Fame point guard on the floor. He brings energy to the team, he brings pace… He plays both ends of the floor, he rebounds the ball… He’s been doing a great job.”
— Joey Linn (@joeylinn_) March 24, 2023
That type of praise is something Westbrook rarely received as a Laker. While Anthony Davis and LeBron never publicly called him out, it’s no secret that he was alienated in the locker room.
“Russell Westbrook was not going to be part of the Lakers after the summer when his contract expired, and also when his contract came off the books because the Lakers would have less money to deal with in the free agency period this summer,” reported Dave McMenamin after the Russ trade. “You get younger, you got shooting, you got switchable defenders, and as one source told me, you remove a vampire from the locker room. That meaning, a vampire sucks the blood out of the locker room. Russell Westbrook moves on.”
Can Westbrook Get Revenge On His Former Team?
At this point, Russ hardly has the time to reflect on his Laker days, but don’t think he forgot the way he was treated before he left. He went to the Clippers as damaged goods, and now he has a real chance to outlast his former team in a situation tailored for his success.
“It’s definitely been a great experience that I’m grateful for and blessed that God has put me in this position,” Russell Westbrook said. “I’m just going to cherish every moment I have and hopefully we are playing at the end of June.”
Only time will tell how this season goes for the Clippers, but Westbrook is going to be a part of their plan, for better or worse.
For now, at least, it seems Russ has not yet overstayed his welcome and Kawhi Leonard still loves having him around.
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