Russell Westbrook refused to go out sad with LA Clippers, salvaging his NBA career

After suffering for 130 games with the Los Angeles Lakers, it appears that Russell Westbrook has found a new home in the NBA, and he didn’t even have to move.

Russell Westbrook has had narratives shift around him in an unprecedentedly quick manner, with a meteoric fall from MVP in the 2016-17 NBA season to a buyout candidate turned veteran minimum signing this year.

His tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers proved to be a disaster in every way, from his on-court fit alongside former champions LeBron James and Anthony Davis to his reception from one of the league’s most storied, and hypercritical, fanbases. Not only did he have to put up with the passion, and oftentimes fanatic, behavior of the Lakers “supporters,” he also had to deal with the backlash from LeBron’s own, separate section of the fandom — those who don’t root for any single team in particular, but rather, follow James on his journey across multiple franchises.

Westbrook had plenty of lowlights in his time with the Lakers, but he needs to be properly credited and appreciated for the positives he brought with him, as well. It’s not his fault that the organization decided to trade nearly all of their dependable role players to bring him on board. It’s not his fault that he — a renowned ball-dominant slasher — was added to a roster that features two superstars who do their best work with the ball in their hands and prefer to score inside. It’s not his fault that the Lakers brass failed to surround him, LeBron, and AD with the spacing and defense needed to make that triumvirate even mildly successful.

While there were valid critiques of Russ’s game with the Lakers, such as his inconsistent defensive effort, questionable decision-making, and head-scratching shot selection, most of the hate rained down upon him was often unwarranted, bordering on slander, and sometimes crossed lines that should never be approached. When a player and his family have to publicly call out death threats they’ve received over his play, something has gone horribly, horribly wrong, and it’s not because of the player.

With all that in mind, it’s not surprising that Russ feels renewed and awakened with the LA Clippers, even though his home stadium happens to be the same building as before.