Kofi Inkoom
Clippers’ Coach Tyronn Lue confided in former NBA player Gilbert Arenas about the team’s true need for Russell Westbrook’s return.
The challenging period Russell Westbrook underwent during his year and a half with the Los Angeles Lakers was extensively documented. The prominent point guard struggled to establish a consistent rhythm and never managed to find his place alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
After being traded to the Utah Jazz and subsequently having his contract bought out, Russell Westbrook’s transition to the Los Angeles Clippers marked a remarkable transformation.
Russell Westbrook is the only player in the world that have absolutely owned both Steph Curry and Kevin Durant in the same game. True greatness đđ„ pic.twitter.com/1BHaYCu6w3
â Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) August 2, 2023
During the offseason, Westbrook entered unrestricted free agency, prompting the Clippers to prioritize re-signing him. They did successfully re-sign him on a two-year contract, a move that Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue considered absolutely essential, according to former NBA player Gilbert Arenas.
Arenas revealed, “I spoke with Ty Lue. He mentioned, We invested everything we had in him. We were determined to keep him with us, and we’re relieved he stayed.’ We lacked a leader, and he assumed that role.”
Upon joining the Clippers, Russell Westbrook provided much-needed ball-handling and playmaking abilities. He seamlessly integrated into the starting lineup and swiftly established strong rapport with his new teammates. Westbrook participated in 21 regular season matches and five playoff games.
During the final stretch of the regular season, Westbrook maintained an average of 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His shooting splits were 48.9 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from the three-point line, and 65.8 percent from the free-throw line.
In the playoffs, he raised those stats to 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He shot 41 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from beyond the arc, and an impressive 88 percent from the free-throw line.