The Los Angeles Lakers traded Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz last season at the February trade deadline. The Jazz, after speaking with Westbrook and his representation, waived the former MVP, who signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Clippers faced the Jazz on October 28 and Westbrook told Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times that he “absolutely” gave serious consideration to remaining with Utah last season.
“I would have come in and did whatever they asked me to do,” Westbrook said. “I told them I could be a mentor. Whatever I needed to do to help, I would have done it. Like always I do whatever is best for the team. If that’s to come and sit my ass there in street clothes and make sure I help the young guys, I’ll do that.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Westbrook wanted to join a playoff contender and the rebuilding Jazz could not offer that. Still, Utah told Westbrook it would welcome him if he chose to report.
“I just wanted to make sure that he knew how much I respect him as a player,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said. “And that whatever the decision ends up being, that he’s always welcome here with me. I’ve had a lot of respect for him for a long time. I’ve been on staffs in San Antonio in particular where we played Oklahoma City in the playoffs a lot, so I’ve seen Russell up close and personal. You know, his reputation speaks for itself. “And so as a coach, it was really just about opening the line of communication that if there was anything that he needed from me, any conversations that he wanted to have, any questions he had about the situation here in terms of the team day to day, that I was available.”
Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 21 games with the Clippers in 2022-23. The future Hall of Famer signed a two-year, nearly $8 million contract with LAC in the offseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers Updates
Unfortunately for the Clippers, the team lost to the Jazz on October 28 by a final score of 120-118. Westbrook didn’t play well, finishing with four points, nine rebounds, four assists and five turnovers in 36 minutes while shooting 2-of-4 from the field.
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