Los Angeles – Russell Westbrook In a conference room at his Avenue of the Stars office, he wore a bucket hat, flip-flops and a big smile. With trade talks stalled and training his camp imminent, Westbrook hardly had to think about his next question. L.A. Does he feel wanted by the Lakers?
“There’s no need for that,” Westbrook recently told ESPN. “I just need to do my job. It doesn’t matter if I am wanted or not. I think the most important thing is to go to work and do what you always do. Be a professional.” ‘Go out and fuck my ass and compete. “
Westbrook, 33, is in his second season with the Lakers, but there are no guarantees. He’s not committed to becoming a starter, staying with the Lakers, or being traded to a team that will keep him on the active roster. I’m still smiling at the end of the afternoon.
After all, this is his favorite day. After exercising in the morning, stop by the office to meet his childhood friend and business partner Donnell, his Beverly and his older brother Ray. If Westbrook’s growing up support for the Lakers is in doubt in Southern California, he finds solace in his unwavering, fiercely close circle of family and friends.
Westbrook taps into Hamm’s vision for the earliest return to work at the gym in his career last offseason, a summer filled with conversations with Lakers coach Durbin Hamm. Talked about the “connection” and “trust” of him in ways that impact these Lakers wins.
Maybe it’s something as a starter or something off the bench. “I’m going all-in for whatever it takes for this team to win,” Westbrook said. “I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”
And Westbrook talked about communicating with his teammates lebron james When Anthony Davisabout how they only played 21 games before the season and that he still sees potential.
Westbrook said, “I’m very optimistic about how we can be great and how AD, LeBron and myself will be unstoppable.”
Westbrook isn’t here to tell you that he’s transitioning to a role player and that the 2021-22 season has been an anomaly. I’m not here to tell you that he had to fight to keep his confidence up due to his and the Lakers’ season debacle.
“No, I didn’t have to fight it,” Westbrook said. For me, that was the important part. Confidence is not what I lack. I should have played better — but my confidence never wavered. Playing a bad game is NBA. and I understand it.
“The only thing it affected me was the effect it had on the people closest to me: my mother, father, wife, brothers, close friends. We deal with it as a family.” I didn’t have to. The hardest part was being booed in the arena and having kids there.
“I looked at my wife and my parents and tried to let them know it was okay. I was able to watch some matches. [last] This year has been so exciting and I’m like, ‘Oh—‘. This is no fun for me. …
“Being able to play at home is a dream come true. But honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to it for me as much as all the people I grew up with, people in the community..but it’s Everything wasn’t as I planned [last year].”
Nothing in the Lakers’ past seasons has gone according to plan, but Westbrook has a chance to try again in Los Angeles. There is probably no scenario Westbrook returning to the Lakers on his new contract in 2023-24. There are probably very few scenarios that don’t include the Lakers continuing to see if Westbrook’s expiring contract can be activated and the draft pick can be traded. Multiple rotation players, or even star players.
Westbrook spent the summer trying to show the Lakers that he was committed to making his role work with the team. Patrick Beverlyjoined the Lakers’ young players in the Las Vegas Summer League, spending many days at the team’s practice facility.
“I’m not near the end,” Westbrook said. All I can do is prepare.
“I am going to make mistakes. [occasionally] I can’t play a good game. Sometimes it doesn’t play well and sometimes it doesn’t grow. I own it, and I’ve had times last year where I’ve played better, and I own the part. Going into this year, I feel more prepared than ever. That’s what I’m most looking forward to. Then you can overcome any hardship. “
When I asked Westbrook if he thought he could put in an amazing performance this season, he laughed and pared it down: .”
Westbrook is still a Laker. Whether he wants to or not, he promises to march to the gym, compete, and honor Hamm’s wishes on how he should play winning basketball. Maybe, but Russell Westbrook still believes he can reinvent his LA story.
