Russell Westbrook Gets Honest On Clippers’ Championship Expectations
The Los Angeles Clippers are a team with multiple superstars that have failed to live up to expectations every year for nearly a half-decade, as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George haven’t been able to stay healthy, especially during the NBA playoffs.
Along with the health issues of two of the best two-way players in the game, the Clippers chose to take in former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook last season, which seemed to be a step in the right direction after his disastrous stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Although Westbrook seemingly turned things around after being traded to the Utah Jazz, bought out, and signed by the Clippers, the mindset of the veteran guard is a little questionable heading into this crucial season for this team.
During the team’s Media Day on Monday, Westbrook was asked if this upcoming season is championship or bust for the Clippers, and he proceeded to claim that isn’t a real thing, according to Clippers reporter Justin Russo via NBACentral.
Russell Westbrook doesn’t believe in ‘championship or bust’
“The championship or bust, to me that’s not a real thing. That’s a thing that people make up. … You could accomplish a lot more. You can create brotherhood, you can learn a lot more about people.”
(Via @FlyByKnite… pic.twitter.com/oyNwxqEDhX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 2, 2023
It seems as though Westbrook may be beyond the winning-is-everything mindset in his NBA career and cares more about the relationships he makes with players on and off the floor.
It’s a bit of a strange quote from a player who is known for how much passion he plays with on the basketball floor, but then again, the last few years of his career have been very strange, to say the least.
Obviously, at this point in his career, it doesn’t really matter what Westbrook says as his legacy is set as one of the greatest guards ever to play the game, but head coach Tyronn Lue probably isn’t thrilled that Westbrook isn’t focused on winning.
Read More: Russell Westbrook Gets Honest On Clippers’ Championship Expectations