Former Thunder Star Russell Westbrook to See Impactful Role for Clippers Next Season
Last season was a bit tumultuous for former MVP and Oklahoma City legend Russell Westbrook.
He played what is likely his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, playing in 52 games and starting in just three. Despite it being painfully obvious that his fit was a rocky one — apparently to everybody but Lakers’ brass — he still managed to showcase some of his high-octane game here and there.
Eventually, he was traded to the Utah Jazz, bought out and subsequently signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Despite no huge statistical increase, Westbrook was blatantly more comfortable on the other side of LA, functioning again as the starting point guard and playing next to former OKC teammate Paul George.
He was a catalyst in the team’s lone playoff series, hustling about in his normal style, adding some efficient points and stingy defense in the process.
After a shaky game one of the series against Phoenix, he poured on 28 points, five assists, five rebounds and two blocks in game two. He continued on to game three with 30 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists and three steals, and continued his fiery run in game four with a game-high 37 points.
Suffice to say, in his short stint with the Clippers, Westbrook seemed to get his mojo back.
Now, Westbrook is primed and ready to help Los Angeles back to the playoffs, and hopefully yet again contend for the NBA Finals in the next installment of the George and Kawhi Leonard era.
Westbrook should yet again be in line for plenty of minutes, with no James Harden deal on the horizon and the Clippers guard rotation still needing some general bolstering.
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