The former Los Angeles Lakers star point guard, Russell Westbrook, moved to the Utah Jazz through a dramatic three-team trade on February 9 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Later in February 20, the Jazz and Westbrook came to an agreement on a contract buyout, and two days later, the Lakers and their rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, signed the veteran PG. During his time at the Lakers, the 2017 MVP gained his fame as the sixth man as he consistently performed coming off the bench.
However, it may be for this reason that the veteran athlete decided to leave the franchise and finally landed with the Clippers.
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Russell Westbrook?
In his show, ‘First Take,’ ESPN’s sports analyst Stephen A. has shared his positive take on Russell’s move to the Clippers. “I’m not picking them to pull this off, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Los Angeles Clippers ended up in the NBA Finals,” the analyst said.
Smith revealed a detailed plan for the Clippers based on Westbrook’s reunion with Paul George, with whom he shared the locker room for two years at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith believes the duo can pull a stunt once again if they are perfectly synced.
.@stephenasmith could see the Clippers going FAR with Russ 😳
"I wouldn't be surprised to see the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Finals."
(via NBA Countdown) pic.twitter.com/yrerEFIquf
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 25, 2023
“The brother shows up to work and he is ready to put in that work and put in that time,” the 51-year-old said regarding the nine-time NBA all-star. “I’m not saying they’re going to the Conference Finals or the NBA Finals, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it happened.”
Smith also mentioned the Clippers’ backroom staff, where head coach Ty Lue’s vision and the efforts of his teammates have the potential to produce a championship performance.
The Clippers are the fifth seed in the Western Conference and face a favorable matchup in the postseason playoffs. However, they still have a long way to go before they can be champions, and they need every bit of their talent and luck.
What do you think about the Clippers’ run this season? Can adding Russell Westbrook boost their performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
