Photo Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press
Russell Westbrook’s struggles with the Los Angeles Lakers were well-documented. Brought in as third star to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook struggled to fit and was eventually demoted to a bench role.
Westbrook had his moments and still served as an elite playmaker, but it was clear that having him on the roster was never going to solve any problem, so the Lakers had no other choice but to move on from him when they had the chance.
The former league MVP was traded to the Utah Jazz before getting waived by the team and signing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Contrary to his Lakers stint, Westbrook turns out to be a solid fit with the Clippers and is generally well-liked by his coaches, teammates, and Clippers fans.
Amid Westbrook’s shot at redemption, former NBA superstar and current Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups now shared his thoughts on Westbrook and the Clippers. According to Billups, signing Westbrook was a gamble that paid off.
“I thought it was a good gamble to take, to be honest with you. They are what they both needed at this time, if that makes sense. Russ needed somebody that was going to hug him.”
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups on Russell Westbrook’s fit with the Clippers: “I thought it was a good gamble to take, to be honest with you. They are what they both needed at this time, if that makes sense. Russ needed somebody that was going to hug him.”
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 8, 2023
