Annoyed, Westbrook unleashes a final missile at LeBron and the Lakers!

Russell Westbrook did everything in his power to save the furniture during the playoffs, but the injuries of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George will have been fatal to the Clippers… Eliminated and now on vacation, the leader still wanted to leave on one last big tackle to the Lakers.

This series between the Clippers and the Suns was the perfect representation of the experience Russell Westbrook on his end of career. Capable of the worst on certain sequences then of the best on others, capable of putting a few important and decisive shots but above all of chaining the bricks, the leader is to be taken with his qualities and his enormous faults.

In the 5 games against Kevin Durant et Cie, he posted quite impressive statistics, with 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 decisive, and at this level, he clearly fulfilled his part of the contract to make up for the absences of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. But we must also point out his mediocre 40% overall success rate and his terrible 3/18 in the elimination match…

Westbrook’s latest tackle on leaving the Lakers

Free agent in a few weeks, the former MVP will in any case have to ask questions about his future if he wants to continue his career in a franchise that lives up to his ambition. He has already gave some hints about itbut before finally turning the page on this season, he decided to look back on his experience at the Lakers with a final tackle:

« Once I got traded. Immediately, to be honest. From that moment, mentally, I was in a better place. »

Russell Westbrook on when he felt like he could be himself again.

(via @TomerAzarly) pic.twitter.com/ZF3EVjtuQ3

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) April 26, 2023

Journalist : When did the pressure come down? When did you say to yourself, “I can be me, I don’t have to worry about everyone anymore”?

Russell Westbrook : When I was traded. Immediately afterwards to be honest. From that moment I felt better mentally.

For Russell Westbrook, the departure of the Lakers was obviously a deliverance, a release, since he immediately felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. By just joining neighboring Clippers, the former MVP felt he could finally be himself again, and he wouldn’t have to worry about fan criticism anymore or at least not so much. For the Lakers, the best way to respond to this tackle is still to quote Kobe Bryant :

Like Kobe said “not everyone is built for the Lakers pressure”

— Tre (@TreShonRouse) April 26, 2023

As Kobe said: “Not everyone is made to withstand the pressure of the Lakers”

Russell Westbrook is much happier since leaving the Lakers, which is obviously good to know. A man with a good mind is often better on the field, the proof with this good playoff campaign.