Russell Westbrook is facing an uncertain future with the Los Angeles Clippers, but the veteran point guard said the recent talk of him being unhappy with his role on the team is inaccurate.
The Clippers were eliminated from the playoffs with their loss to the Dallas Mavericks in Game 6 of the first-round series between the two teams on Friday night. Not long after L.A.’s loss, a report from The Athletic claimed Westbrook may be inclined to leave the Clippers this summer in pursuit of a more significant role elsewhere.
Westbrook shifted to a sixth man role with the Clippers this year, and early indications were that he did so voluntarily. However, the newest report says team president Lawrence Frank had to convince Westbrook to move to the bench and that the transition was “far more challenging” behind the scenes than it appeared publicly.
Late Saturday night, Westbrook shared a lengthy statement on his Instagram story calling out the media.
“I am often the topic of conversation by so many ‘sources’ and sports news outlets. I felt inclined to share my actual thoughts and words following this season. Understand that anything you read about what I’ve said or haven’t said has likely been fabricated,” Westbrook wrote. “I’ve never had any trouble sharing my thoughts or ideas on anything, and I choose to keep my thoughts to myself in most cases.
“I’d like to share some of my actual thoughts to clipper nation and all of my fans. It’s a difficult time for a lot of people due to certain expectations that have been placed on them. Therefore, it’s understandable that there is pressure to plant stories or point the finger for what many would classify as a disappointing end to our season.
“I for one enjoyed my year, and worked hard to bring the energy, and provide a spark for our team with each opportunity I was given. I felt that I was and remain more than willing to take on new roles, and make certain sacrifices in hope that it would make our team better. I hoped for a different outcome, but I also enjoyed being in the trenches with my teammates this year who have all been supportive of me throughout the season. I hope to come back better, stronger, and remain eager to take on any role that continues to put us in the best position to win next season!”
Russell Westbrook on IG. pic.twitter.com/d9OVvnL09I
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 5, 2024
Westbrook has a $4 million player option for next season, which is not much more than the veteran minimum he would be entitled to with any team. It would hardly be a surprise if he declined the option, but the last part of the 35-year-old’s statement seemed like his way of saying he would like to remain with the Clippers. Whether the team is willing to pay him more money remains to be seen.
Westbrook averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while playing 22.5 minutes per game during the regular season. His most notable playoff moment was when he got ejected from a game.
