Maybe this big idea of bringing Russell Westbrook off the bench will work for new coach Darvin Ham and the Lakers.
After all, what other options to do the Lakers have at the moment? They certainly can’t seem to find a trade partner.
For a while, they couldn’t seem to find a victory, either. But that all changed Sunday, when the Lakers (1-5) outlasted the Nuggets to become the last NBA team to win a game this season.
And for the second straight game, Westbrook came off the bench. On this night, he scored 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and passed for eight assists in 32 minutes. He even went 2-of-4 shooting on 3-pointers (and 6-of-12 overall).
But that’s not all. He also recorded a plus-minus of plus-18 — meaning the Lakers outscored the Nuggets by 18 points with him on the floor.
That just happens to be his best plus-minus number since 2020, or before he came to the Lakers in that trade with the Wizards.
“To be a player of his caliber and asked to come off the bench, that’s truly a guy doing whatever the team asks to get a win,” Lakers power forward Anthony Davis said of Westbrook, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Sacrifice his starting position for the betterment of the team. He’s flourished in that role. That’s all we can ask for. I told him, ‘Just keep what you’re doing, man. Everything you’re doing is unbelievable.’ In the last two games, he just kind of been doing his thing. Proud of him.”
Westbrook has said he is willing to do whatever Ham asks. At this point, what other choice is there? Until the last couple of games, the Lakers and Westbrook have mostly been miserable together.
For now, Westbrook finally seems to be enjoying himself, and the Lakers look a little better.
“I love seeing my teammates flourish, honestly,” Westbrook said, via McMenamin. “I get a joy by seeing others do great; my whole career, what lifts me up is to see others do well. And tonight was that night to see guys making shots, competing, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Without a doubt, the Lakers will still look to trade Westbrook and his expiring $47.1 million contract. But perhaps paying him that much to come off the bench will work out until they can find a taker.
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