Russell Westbrook Proving To Be Ultimate Team Player For Los Angeles Clippers
While the Los Angeles Clippers only have one win with Russell Westbrook on their roster, the nine-time All-Star is doing everything he can to put his team in a position to succeed.
Russell Westbrook has played in six games with the Los Angeles Clippers since being traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz ahead of the trade deadline and then being bought out of his contract shortly after.
While he and the Clippers lost their first five games together, they were finally able to get in the win column on Sunday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, picking up a much-needed 135-129 come from behind victory.
Trailing by as many as 16 points in the second-half after being outscored 51-30 in the third quarter alone, the Clippers were able to escape this game against Memphis with a victory and Russell Westbrook once again proved his worth to his team.
He may have only had nine points, six assists, five rebounds and one steal, but Westbrook finished the game with a plus-minus of +9 and he continued to set his teammates up for success with his driving and passing abilities on the offensive-end of the floor.
Recording six assists in this win, Russell Westbrook has now recorded at least six assists in five of his six games with the Clippers, including three games with at least ten assists.
“It’s every night man. Whatever is asked of me, whatever I need to do, I’ll do it,” Westbrook told reporters after Sunday’s game. “Whether it is scoring, rebounding, defending, leadership, energy. Whatever it is, I pride myself on being able to do every single thing on the floor and making winning basketball plays. I’m grateful and thankful that I have this opportunity to go out on the floor and play and show that on a night-to-night basis. I’ll continue to do that for this team the rest of the way.”
Westbrook has drawn a lot of criticism this season given some of his struggles with the Lakers earlier in the year, but so far, he has made the most of his time with the Clippers.
He is averaging 15.3 points, 8.3 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game with the Los Angeles Clippers and he is also averaging 1.5 steals per game.
Showing a willingness to set screens on offense and fight on the defensive-end of the floor, Russell Westbrook has given the Clippers an extra jolt of energy and he has not been the reason for their recent losing skid.
Now 34-33 on the season following their win over the Grizzlies, the Clippers are just 0.5 games behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 6-seed in the Western Conference and they will have plenty of opportunities to pick up key wins the rest of the season.
Paul George and Kawhi Leonard cannot do everything for this team, which is why having another key contributor like Russell Westbrook who is willing to do a little bit of everything and adjust his role on a nightly basis is so important.
He may not be a three-point shooting threat and he may turn the ball over at times, but Westbrook gives it his all consistently and he is beginning to look very comfortable with the Los Angeles Clippers.
