- Russell Westbrook doesn’t deserve to be called “Westbrick”, says Patrick Beverley
- Beverley pointed to Westbrook’s good shooting with the Clippers
- Westbrook has revitalized his career with the Clippers
Point guard Russell Westbrook is clearly one of the greatest players in NBA history at his position and a first-ballot Hall of Fame player. Still, his ball-dominant and inefficient playstyle has drawn a lot of criticism from analysts and fans alike.
There is no doubt that Russell Westbrook is a poor outside shooter, with his career 3PT percentage being 30.6%. That has led a lot of fans to use the derogatory nickname “Westbrick” when referring to the point guard. Recently, Patrick Beverley explained why this is uncalled for.
“He shot 41, 40% from 3PT range, people call him “Westbrick”, how? How?”
Pat Bev says Russell Westbrook doesn’t deserve the nickname “Westbrick” after shooting 40% from 3
(Via @GilsArenaShow / h/t @OVOLakeShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 1, 2023
There is no doubt that Patrick Beverley has a point about the treatment Russell Westbrook has received. Though Westbrook has never actually shot 40% or above from 3PT range over the course of an entire season, he has had a good shooting stretch since joining the Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 35.6% from the 3PT range in 21 regular season games with the Clippers, on 3.5 attempts. Though it is unlikely that he’ll ever be an elite 3PT shooter, the Clippers will take this level of shooting from a player that contributes almost everywhere else on the court.
Since joining the Los Angeles Clippers, Russell Westbrook has seemingly rediscovered himself. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in the regular season with the Clippers, and he has been fitting in well in a smaller role with the team.
Ty Lue Views Russell Westbrook As A Starting-Level Point Guard
Though Russell Westbrook was deployed as a sixth man during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, it seems as though his role with the Los Angeles Clippers will be different. Previously, coach Ty Lue revealed that Russell Westbrook’s role with the Clippers next season will be that of a starter.
“I view him as a starter, view him as a starter and, you know, kind of just see how it plays out,” Lue said. “We needed his energy, we needed his firepower and so he was really good for us. My vision right now is to stay how we were before PG got hurt and see what happens.”
At his best, Russell Westbrook is definitely a starting-level point guard, even though he is no longer in his prime. He can play good defense, rebound, and make plays for others, which is a perfect fit for what the Clippers need out of a starting point guard.
Russell Westbrook’s Leadership Has Been Useful For The Clippers
There is no doubt that leadership takes many forms, and Russell Westbrook has always been a vocal leader who pushes his teammates to be better every single day. In fact, Ty Lue told Gilbert Arenas that Russell Westbrook is the leader of the Clippers, also stating that the team finally has someone who can help them go “forward”.
The Clippers have been unable to win a championship thus far during the Kawhi Leonard and Paul George era, topping out with a Western Conference Finals appearance during the 2021 playoffs. Hopefully, Russell Westbrook can help them get over the hump, and if they remain healthy, they can be one of the best teams in the league.
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