NBA
Russell Westbrook: “It’s a blessing” to be in LA
Westbrook was traded to the Lakers in the offseason and expressed his excitement to return to his hometown and play for the team he grew up watching.
In the NBA offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers were still working - on trading. The Lakers successfully landed Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. It was this move that put them on the charts as favorites to win the NBA championship this season, along with the Brooklyn Nets.
Westbrook back home in LA
For Westbrook, this is a “blessing”. He grew up on the outskirts of LA, cheering for the Lakers, and now he gets to play for them. Westbrook had stints with Oklahoma City, Houston, and Washington before finally trading to the Lakers. The Lakers are excited to have him, too - he is a nine-time NBA All-Star, win NBA MVP in 2016/17 (the same year he led the league in scoring, though that happened in 2014/15 as well), and won the All-NBA Team member nine times. With the addition of Westbrook to a team which has stars Lebron James and Anthony Davis, we could very well see the Lakers holding the banner number 18 next June.
“There’s always been conversations about me coming home, every Summer - damn near. And I never really thought it would actually pull through until obviously now,” Westbrook said. “Being in this Lakers uniform is just a blessing for me and my family and my loved ones and the people here who support me.”
“Especially being from LA, being able to come home, finally, it’s just a blessing.”