Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Russell Westbrook is entering his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers and wanted nothing to do with the Los Angeles Clippers during the offseason.
There’s only one team that plays at Staples Center that Russell Westbrook wanted to suit up for and if you’re a good guesser, you know that it wasn’t the Los Angeles Clippers. In July, Westbrook was traded from the Washington Wizards to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Russell grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs and attended UCLA, so he’s playing back at home for the first time since his collegiate career. He grew up a Laker fan, too, so that could’ve played a small part in him not wanting to play for the other NBA team in the city.
Russell Westbrook had zero desire to play for the Los Angeles Clippers
Washington’s GM Tommy Sheppard spoke on Westbrook’s professionalism and a conversation that the two shared.
“Russell actually never asked to move on. He just said, ‘If I can get to the Lakers, that’d be something I would love to do. If not, I’ll be back here.’ I said, ‘What about the Clippers?’ He said, ‘Hell no.’ So Russell was happy being here and we were very grateful for him being here.”
Who wouldn’t want to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis? After losing in the first round of the playoffs last season to the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers acquired multiple players during the offseason.
If Russell can help lead Los Angeles (not the Clippers) to a championship, it’d be legendary. Not only would it be his first title, but he’d get to share it with the place that he calls home.