Former NBA champion believes Russell Westbrook and LA Clippers have been a great fit - "Needed somebody that was going to hug him"
The LA Clippers took a gamble by signing Russell Westbrook on the buyout market. Westbrook experienced a decline with the LA Lakers before his stint with their cross-town rivals. Critics believed Westbrook wouldn't have a spot on any team.
However, the Clippers emerged as one of the teams needing a true point guard, and Westbrook was their first option after Reggie Jackson and John Wall failed to fill that void. Portland coach Chauncey Billups reflected on the Clippers' partnership with Westbrook in their short time so far, insinuating that the two parties are a solid fit for each other.
Here's what Billups said regarding this (via NBA reporter Mark Medina):
"I thought it was a good gamble to take, to be honest with you. They are what they both needed at this time, if that makes sense. Russ needed somebody that was going to hug him."
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups on Russell Westbrook's fit with the Clippers: "I thought it was a good gamble to take, to be honest with you. They are what they both needed at this time, if that makes sense. Russ needed somebody that was going to hug him."
The key difference between Westbrook's time with the Lakers and Clippers was the roster construction of both teams. LA lost a lot of flexibility due to Westbrook's $44 million contract in 2021-22 and $47 million contract in 2022-23.
Their other stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, struggled to stay healthy. On top of that, Westbrook wasn't a great fit, especially alongside James. They brought the same skillset to the table, and their jump-shooting inefficiency hampered the team's spacing.
Russell Westbrook endured plenty of scrutiny throughout his tenure with the Purple and Gold, which also hampered his confidence on the court. However, everything was different with the LA Clippers from the start.
The Clippers had plenty of spacing with the shooting they have on their roster. Their two leading stars, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, aren't necessarily ball-dominant. They are also efficient 3-point shooters. Westbrook had the ball in his hands more, allowing him to thrive in his role with the team.
Russell Westbrook regaining confidence with the LA Clippers
Russell Westbrook seems to have gotten his swagger back after a solid run with the LA Clippers, which included a win over his former team, the LA Lakers. Over his last 10 games, Westbrook has averaged 17.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, shooting 51.6%, including 42.1% from 3-point range.
The Clippers have improved their pace and ball distribution since Westbrook's arrival. His playmaking has also helped the team capitalize on having a solid 3-point shooting team.
In recent weeks, Russell Westbrook has shown that he can perform as a potent No. 1 or No. 2 option in the absence of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, which gives the team a significant boost, especially in the playoffs.