Patrick Beverley and Russell Westbrook were both sent away by the Los Angeles Lakers at the NBA Trade Deadline.
The latter was eventually bought out and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, while the former was released and inked a deal with his hometown Chicago Bulls.
Both seemed glad to be done with the circus that was the Lakers’ 2022-23 NBA campaign.
This week, Beverley appeared on his Barstool Sports podcast and revealed the first thing he texted Westbrook after he linked up with the Clippers.
“I texted him soon as I hear about it, and he text me right back,” Beverley said. “I said, ‘Man you’re gonna love it there. You’re gonna it there man, you’re gonna love it there.”
When pressed on why he believed Westbrook would love it with the Clippers, Beverley kept it real.
“I’m trying to say the right words,” Beverley said thoughtfully.
“Just the detail of the organization, the detail of game-planning the detail of preparation, being ready, how to attack a team every single game.
“No matter where you’re at, no matter if you’re on the road, no matter if you played 30 minutes, how to attack a team, how you know you’re gonna score, educate you a little bit more, some openings on how to defeat this team and you know I think he’ll appreciate that.”
Beverley and Westbrook obviously have an interesting history. That said, the beef seems to be done now. They now appear to be genuinely rooting for one another.
LeBron James’ goodbye message to Westbrook was self-explanatory. Ditto for what Anthony Davis said about him.
And Lakers GM Rob Pelinka didn’t mince words while explaining the decision to banish Westbrook.
The stakes here for all parties involved are clear. If Westbrook succeeds with the Clippers, then the Lakers were the problem all along. If the Lakers succeed without Westbrook, he was the issue.
One way or another, all questions will be answered in the second half of the season.
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