Russell Westbrook Looked Sharp In Recent Pickup Game

The last couple of years have been rough for Russell Westbrook.

He was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he grew up rooting for, in 2021, and it was thought they had just put together a superteam with him, LeBron James, and Anthony Davis.

But the Lakers faltered, missing the play-in tournament that season, and midway through last season they traded Westbrook to the Utah Jazz, who promptly waived him.

Westbrook then joined the Los Angeles Clippers and saw a bump in his production.

In a recent pick-up game held by Rico Hines, he was looking good, via NBACentral.

Russell Westbrook at @ricohinesbball 🔥

(Via @Ballislife / h/t @joeylinn_) pic.twitter.com/gBjAdi6WuB

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 7, 2023

With the Lakers in the 2021-22 season, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists a game while shooting 44.4 percent overall and 29.8 percent from 3-point range.

But in 21 games with the Clippers this past season, his efficiency increased to 48.9 percent overall and 35.6 percent from downtown.

Many felt when he joined the Clippers that the team would be a better fit for him than the Lakers were, and they seemed to be correct, especially since he hasn’t had to share ball-handling duties on the Clippers with someone such as James.

However, the Clippers remain a fatally flawed team, and it is still hard to imagine them winning the NBA championship.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are injury-prone, and the team may not have the type of strong depth it used to have.

Then there is the matter of Westbrook himself, who is still a good player at age 34 but is turnover and mistake-prone, and furthermore, he simply isn’t a floor general or leader, which is what the Clippers really need in a high-level point guard.