Top league executive ACCUSES the Lakers of shaping Russell Westbrook to be a ‘different player’
Russel Westbrook, formerly a scapegoat for the Lakers, is now a star for the Clippers, who allow him to be himself, according to an anonymous NBA executive.
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The Los Angeles Clippers seem to have found the perfect solution to Russell Westbrook’s problems. What the Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t do while attempting to assemble a super-team, the Clippers have accomplished in a shorter period of time. Instead of imposing an image on Westbrook, they have let him be himself. Whilst this may appear to be a little trivial, it has had a significant influence since the player is now playing to his strengths.
An anonymous NBA executive stated unequivocally that Westbrook was never a problem for the team. He highlighted that there was a significant contrast in how the Clippers and Lakers handled Westbrook. According to the executive, the Clippers have allowed Westbrook to be himself, but the Lakers did not. This, according to him, is what made Westbrook a better version of himself on the Clippers than on the Lakers. This freedom is what he lacked with the Lakers, and it was the source of more friction between the franchise and him.
The exec said, “They are letting Russ be Russ, that is something a lot of us have been saying for a while.” He further added, “The Lakers brought him in and tried to make him a different player, tried to force him to be something he is not.” He went on to blame the Lakers and said, “…that led to a lot of the problems they had with each other. But the Lakers left him hung out to dry there.”
The Executive also went on to add that the Lakers put false accusations on Westbrook, as they tried to synthesize an image of the player he never was. They said, “It wasn’t the coaches, it was more the front office.” He added, “…negative things about Russell… how he conducted himself and all… you should not buy that stuff.” They also went on to say, “Some of the negativity coming out about him with the Lakers, that never really rang true because that’s not who the guy is.”
LA Clippers and Russell Westbrook, the perfect chemistry
Russell Westbrook seems to have found his perfect destination in the LA Clippers, a team that lets him be him. What can clearly be seen is clear progress and positivity in Westbrook’s game after his addition to the Lakers. So far, Westbrook has averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 18 games with the Clippers.
LA Clippers’ sources called Westbrook a “Model Citizen” and said various positive things about the player. They said, “He helps with younger players, he is good in the locker room, and everyone likes him. He is comfortable and it is showing.” An executive also said, “I have never known him to be a locker room problem or anything like that”. The exec continued to say, “Whatever you might not like about his game, he is always where you want him to be off the court.”
All of this points toward the Lakers being the bane of Westbrook’s life, highlighting he was never really the problem. Westbrook seems to have added motivation in his game since his arrival in Clipperland, with most things going his way. What the player now needs is sweet revenge against his old team, the Lakers.
It will be fun to watch how Westbrook performs in the LA showdown with the Clippers going head-to-head against the Lakers. Old friends will clash; as we all know, no love has been lost between Russell Westbrook and the LA Lakers.
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Harshit Singh
(434 Articles Published)