Russell Westbrook did not sign up to be the backup point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers, but he’s learned to embrace the role this season. Now, after months as a full-time bench player, Russ believes there is nobody more valuable in the league who is doing what he does as a reserve.
“Ain't nobody better than me coming off the bench, in this league," Westbrook said via ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk.
To his credit, Westbrook has been great for the Clippers this season. Through 67 games, he's averaging 11.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 45% shooting. In roughly 22 minutes of play, he provides life and a spark of energy off the bench with his speed, quickness, and relentless attack on offense.
"I know who I am and what I'm able to bring to the game," Westbrook told ESPN. "Nobody's able to do what I can do since I got in this league. And the reason why I'm in the position I'm in is because nobody ever knew I could do [it on a] night-in and night-out basis."
After going down with a hand injury, Westbrook missed some significant time, and the Clippers had their worst stretch of the season. Since he returned on March 25, the Clippers are 7-2 and back to looking like one of the best in the West.
While Russ is currently not a favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year, he will certainly be among the finalists this year along with Coby White and other unexpected performers. But the real question now is how much Westbrook’s resurgence will help the Clippers in the postseason, where they’ve been historically underwhelming.
Los Angeles Clippers Are A Wildcard In The West
Looking back, it's been an up-and-down season for Russell Westbrook and the Clippers, but there’s been enough evidence to suggest that they can be one of the last teams standing this summer.
During eight weeks earlier this season, the Clippers looked like a real problem in the West, and the trio of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden looked to be borderline unstoppable. Meanwhile, role players like Westbrook, Nic Batum, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac give the Clippers amazing depth that holds up against the best in the league.
To date, the farthest the Clippers have ever gone is the Western Conference Finals in 2021, after Paul George stepped up as the hero against Denver to advance past the second round and into the series against Phoenix.
The Clippers have not been back for various reasons, but the feeling is that things could finally change for them this year. Loaded with both top-heavy talent and veteran depth off the bench, Los Angeles has, arguably, the strongest roster in the league on paper. Now, it’s just a matter of staying healthy, building chemistry, and playing up to their potential as one of the best teams in the league.
For better or worse, Westbrook will be part of the Clippers’ story this season, and how he plays for the next few months may very well determine the twilight of his NBA career.
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