Although Russell Westbrook had always maintained a small inner group, he had little trouble making friends at UCLA. He had just turned seventeen and was eager to learn about stuff outside of South Los Angeles as he entered the vast Westwood campus.
Life truly seems to be coming full circle for this aspiring champion as Westbrook and the Clippers are said to have reached an agreement today that would keep the experienced point guard in Los Angeles for the next two seasons.
Westbrook’s impressive Stint earns him LA’s return
The year 2017’s NBA MVP and Nine-time NBA All-Star was Russell Westbrook. In 2021, he was selected for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary team. At Oklahoma City, he spent his first 11 seasons before being moved to the Rockets.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS A CLIPPER!!!! #Clippernation pic.twitter.com/jfAdk5fnvm
— Ibrahim (@BrodieBeam4) July 1, 2023
He later participated with the Clippers, Lakers, and Wizards. After a turbulent time with the team, the Lakers traded Westbrook to the Jazz at the trade deadline last year. The veteran point guard and Utah came to terms on a buyout, which made it possible for him to return to L.A. and join the Clippers.
The 52 games out of the 73 total in which Westbrook played were for the Lakers. The ‘Beastbrook’ averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists from outside the arc in 21 while shooting 35.6% games with the Clippers. Westbrook is anticipated to keep the starting point guard role that he held towards the end of the 2022–23 NBA season.
Russell Westbrook agrees two-year, $8 million deal
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Westbrook and the Clippers reached a free-agent agreement for a two-year, $8 million deal. Westbrook could potentially return to free agency as early as next year because the agreement contains a player option for the second season. Before Westbrook begins his second season in Los Angeles, his contract includes a player option.
Free agent Russell Westbrook has agreed on a two-year, nearly $8M deal to stay with the Clippers, agent Jeff Schwartz of @Excelbasketball tells ESPN. Deal includes player option. Clippers were eager to bring back 9-time All-Star after his late season run as starting point guard. pic.twitter.com/ycN4Mc6G1I
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2023
The franchise is reportedly interested in Damian Lillard and James Harden in addition to the Westbrook trade. KJ Martin was another player the Clippers acquired in Saturday’s trade with the Rockets. The Clippers’ decision to bring Westbrook back demonstrates that both parties saw it fit to work together going forward.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have alternated as the point guards for Los Angeles for the entire era. For the first time in his career, Russell Westbrook was able to sign a free-agent contract during the offseason, but he also doesn’t seem to have any desire to leave sunny Southern California.
