Russell Westbrook is on the move for the third time in the last three seasons. After moving from OKC to Houston in 2019, and then Washington in 2020, Westbrook is now on his way back to his hometown, as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook will join LeBron James and Anthony Davis to form a big three in LA.
For Westbrook, this might be his best chance to win an NBA championship since his days with Oklahoma City, when he had Kevin Durant and James Harden by his side. Westbrook will be leaving Bradley Beal and the Wizards after a difficult season but was still able to secure the eighth seed this season. Westbrook had a fantastic season individually, with him leading the NBA in assists and triple-doubles. But now, he will be a part of the Lakers, most likely as the third option for them.
Before he leaves Washington, Westbrook wanted to send a message to the fans of the Wizards and the people of Washington D.C. Westbrook took to Twitter to send a heartfelt message to the people of D.C, thanking them for welcoming him and his family to their city. He even gave props to the Washington Wizards organization for how they treated him during his stint with them. And finally, he told the fans how much appreciated them supporting him while he played for the Wizards.
"Thank you, DC! You welcomed my family and I with open arms from day one. Everyone from the front office to the training staff, the coaches, my teammates, and the fans. I’m grateful y’all took a chance on me and supported me every step of the way. I’m blessed to have been a part of such a stand-up organization. It didn’t take long to make a home in DC, and I will forever be grateful and appreciative of my experience with the organization. Thank you!"
Westbrook will join the Lakers ahead of the new season. Despite the fanfare surrounding the move, there are some concerns about how the Lakers will adjust to Westbrook's game. Westbrook is not a great perimeter scorer, something the Lakers desperately need at the moment. If they can make some trades and signings to put three-point specialists around the trio of Westbrook, LeBron, and Davis, this move could be one that seals an NBA championship for them.
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