Russell Westbrook seriously thought of staying with Jazz last season

2023-10-28T23:05:00+00:00 2023-10-28T23:09:12+00:00.

Antonis Stroggylakis

28/Oct/23 23:05

Eurohoops.net
russell-westbrook-clippers
Adam Pantozzi / Getty Images / Ideal Image

Russell Westbrook would’ve stayed with the Utah Jazz last season after his exit from the Lakers.

Βy Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Russell Westbrook spent just 12 days as a Utah Jazz player last February after he got traded to the team by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jazz and the nine-time NBA All-Star guard reached a buyout agreement before he ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

It’s not like Westbrook looked for an exit from the Jazz, mentioning that told Utah that he could remain with the team in any capacity it is required from him. Even if that meant he wouldn’t gear up to play.

Per the Los Angeles Times:

“Yet in those 12 days, Westbrook “absolutely” gave serious consideration to remaining with the Jazz.

‘I would have come in and did whatever they asked me to do,’ Westbrook said. ‘I told them I could be a mentor. Whatever I needed to do to help, I would have done it. Like always I do whatever is best for the team. If that’s to come and sit my ass there in street clothes and make sure I help the young guys, I’ll do that.'”

Westbrook returned to Los Angeles for the Clippers, finishing the season with 15.8 points, 7.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds in the remaining 21 regular season games. He raised the level of his game in the playoffs, posting 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists as the Clippers were eliminated 1-4 by the Phoenix Suns.

×