Los Angeles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook was happy when the Los Angeles Lakers traded him last season.
Westbrook was booed by Lakers fans at home games and people called him “Westbrick” because he was shooting the ball so poorly.
“I was so ready to play [for a new team] based on the situation I was in and how it ended,” Westbrook told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
The Lakers acquired Westbrook from the Washington Wizards in August 2021 in a blockbuster trade. Westbrook met with LeBron James and Anthony Davis at LeBron’s house before the trade happened and the three All-Stars were excited to compete for a title together.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
However, the Westbrook trade turned out to be a disaster for the Lakers, who went 56-74 with Westbrook in the lineup. Los Angeles missed the play-in tournament in 2021-22 and was dreadful last season before trading Westbrook to the Utah Jazz at the February trade deadline.
“A lot of different emotions. But happy for sure. There just was so much going on at that time,” Westbrook said.
The Lakers reached the Western Conference Finals last season after trading Westbrook. Meanwhile, Westbrook was waived by the Jazz, allowing him to join the Clippers.
Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 7.6 assists in 21 games with the Clippers last season. LAC faced the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the 2023 playoffs and Westbrook averaged 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in the five-game series.
The Clippers re-signed Westbrook on a two-year, nearly $8 million contract last offseason in free agency. The future Hall of Famer is averaging 11.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season while shooting 47.0% from the field, 28.9% from 3 and 66.1% from the free-throw line.
“I felt like the joy [was] back [of] having fun playing again,” Westbrook said of joining the Clippers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Westbrook averaged 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 3.7 turnovers in 130 games with the Lakers. He wasn’t a good fit next to Davis and LeBron since he’s not a reliable shooter. Westbrook shot only 29.7% from beyond the arc as a member of the Lakers.
