Sports
Russell Westbrook Praised by Clippers’ Frank: ‘Everything We Hoped He Would Be’
Kate Frese/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Or not it is stable to claim the Los Angeles Clippers are ecstatic Russell Westbrook is wait on with the employees.
“In the two months Russ spent with the employees, he became every little thing we hoped he would possibly per chance per chance well be and additional,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank told journalists. “He made a huge affect on the court docket and off it, with the urgency, depth and professionalism he brings.”
The Clippers re-signed Westbrook to a two-year, $7.8 million style out a participant probability for the 2d season.
Frank’s words are famous pondering eight-time All-Big establish Paul George strongly advocated on Westbrook’s behalf to the president of basketball operations earlier than the decision to re-mark the point guard:
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Paul George said he in truth desires Russell Westbrook wait on next season and said Westbrook “is the chief” the Clippers need at point guard.
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Here’s the stout audio of Paul George on Russell Westbrook, where he says “As I told L, it is the stuff that he does off the court docket, the stuff that he does in the locker room, that is barely so precious to a employees.”
The L is Clippers President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank pic.twitter.com/zPU2vOebx3
The UCLA product came to the Clippers at one thing of a low point in his profession.
His time with the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t figure out as hoped, as they left out the playoffs entirely in 2021-22 all the draw through his first season and struggled to fetch any consistency at the starting up of 2022-23 when he became restful on the roster.
Westbrook’s struggles with his exterior taking pictures didn’t play properly alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who plan so mighty defensive consideration and create start looks to be for their teammates. The Lakers ended up trading him to the Utah Jazz, who then accomplished a buyout of his contract.
That’s when the Clippers swooped in and added him earlier than the stretch tear.
Westbrook averaged 15.8 aspects, 7.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 21 new-season video games with the Clippers after which elevated his game in the playoffs when George and Kawhi Leonard were sidelined.
Even although Los Angeles became overmatched by a loaded Phoenix Suns employees given these accidents, Westbrook averaged 23.6 aspects, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game one day of the sequence.
The Clippers clearly favored what they saw and made obvious the future Hall of Famer will seemingly be a phase of their championship push this season with a new contract.