When James Harden was traded to the team at the beginning of the season, Russell probably didn’t expect that his role on the court would decline so significantly. However, the former MVP understands the meaning of true sacrifice and is willing to practice it in his pursuit of a championship.
In the offseason, when Russell Westbrook renewed his contract with the Clippers, people expected him to continue to be the team’s starting point guard, because before Russell joined in the middle of the season last season, the Clippers had been unable to find a suitable commander and Paul for many years. George and Kawhi Leonard pair up on the court. At the beginning of the season, James Harden joined the Clippers through a trade. Harden’s arrival did not immediately reduce Russell’s role on the court. However, the subsequent five-game losing streak forced the team’s starting lineup to make adjustments. Since then, Russell’s Playing time has dropped significantly.
Since Russell was demoted to the bench, his average playing time has dropped to 20.6 minutes per game. From December 6, Tyronn Lue began to completely stagger Russell and Harden’s playing time, reducing Russell’s average playing time to 20.6 minutes per game. Only 17.2 minutes.
Whether he had to return to the Clippers after voluntarily reducing his salary in the offseason, or when the Clippers acquired Harden through a trade at the beginning of the season, Russell must not have expected to encounter such a situation. Despite this, the former league MVP understands what true sacrifice is and is willing to make corresponding efforts for the championship.
“I’ve been in the league so long that I understand the definition of true sacrifice and what it really looks like,” Russell told AllClippers after last weekend’s win over the Knicks. “Sometimes things may not go the way you want, but if it’s for the better of the team, that’s the most important part. Basketball is a team sport, and I know the most important goal is to win a championship.”
Although the main reason why the Clippers signed Russell last season was to supplement the point guard they had been missing since the PG and Kawhi era, after joining the team, he also served as the “locker room leader” of the team. This was something the entire team was talking about last season, and Tyronn Lue even bluntly said that Russell’s arrival really saved the entire team.
Whether it’s pushing other veterans on the team during practices, leading on the court during games, or mentoring younger players, Russell enjoys taking on the role of spiritual leader. Although Russell’s impact on the court may be gradually being ignored despite not receiving a lot of playing time, this is not the case.
During games, Russell is rarely seen on the bench. He’s always mentoring Terance Mann, Kobe Brown and other young players. When he was asked why he did this, and if anyone else today would probably start expressing dissatisfaction with the coach’s arrangements, Russell said it was his responsibility and he should have done it.
取自：Gary A. Vasquez – USA TODAY Sports
“You can’t just lead when you want to,” Russell told AllClippers. “Part of my responsibility since I’ve been in this league has been leadership. No matter what the situation is, these young guys need to learn and understand how important each of their roles are on the team. Every time I get the opportunity, I try to make sure I’m in their ear, instilling confidence in them and making sure they understand how important they are. That’s part of my job.”
As Russell stated, this is something he’s been doing since he entered the league. Many of Russell’s former teammates praised his leadership, and Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant spoke to AllClippers about his experience working with Russell in OKC.
“It was really cool!” Grant said of his time fighting with Russell. “He took great care of me. I was traded to the Thunder in my third year in the league and he took care of me right away. We built a relationship and he completely understood me and allowed me to start building on the court. Self-confidence. He is an important reason why I am able to achieve what I am today.”
Grant’s experience is just one of many like it. This is why Russell’s overall impact on the team, especially this Clippers team, cannot be measured by statistics.
Taken from: PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES
There’s another part of Russell’s impact that’s hard to quantify in this new role, and that’s the energy he brings as soon as he steps onto the court. With limited playing time, Russell can still have a huge impact on the game in a short period of time. In many ways, his ability to change the dynamics of a game is outstanding.
“I know my worth and my abilities,” Russell told AllClippers. “No matter how much playing time I have, I know that I can continue to bring energy to the team, like a force. God has given me this ability.”
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said of Russell’s backup role: “Russell is an extremely explosive player who can change the game as soon as he steps on the court, just with his strength and speed.”
This energy is something fans can feel too. Whenever Russell plays, Clippers fans tend to get excited, and whenever he puts in a wonderful performance, cheers fill the entire arena. Russell heard those voices and wanted to reward those fans with his performance on the field.
Taken from: PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES
“Whether I’m playing five minutes or 20 minutes, when I’m on the floor, I want to make sure I give it my all and give it my all,” Russell said. “I know my job is to give it my all every night and make sure The people who came out enjoyed my time on the court.”
With Russell’s role reversal, others may not approach the new position with the same enthusiasm they did in last year’s playoffs. When they met the Suns in the first round of the playoffs last season, he averaged 33.5 points, 8.0 assists and 6.0 rebounds in Game 3 and Game 4. When the team was missing Kawhi and PG, he just carried the ball. The team fought fiercely with the Suns until the last moment. Contrary to others and popular speculation, Russell has embraced this new role and everything that comes with it, including helping the team’s young players grow and bringing enthusiasm and energy to the crowd in his allotted playing time.
Steve Kerr talked about the “element of sacrifice” and mentioned that he believes every team needs someone to set the tone. “I think every team has to have someone who sets the tone. For us, eight years ago, that person was Andre Iguodala. He had never been a substitute in his entire career, but he agreed to this arrangement for eight months. Then he became the MVP of the Finals. It felt like the basketball gods were taking care of him.”
It’s not easy for Russell to be asked to make such a level of sacrifice, but it goes back to before the season started. When Russell was asked what kind of teammate he was, he said: “I really like to see other people perform. Better. That’s really who I am… I’ll take myself out of it… I’ll take a bullet for anybody, I’ll take all the pressure, I really don’t care. Because I know what it means for my teammates most important.”
Not everyone enjoys seeing others succeed, and even fewer are willing to appreciate the success of others at the expense of their own shine. But Russell is doing just that now. Russell is capable of far more than what he is now being asked to do. However, he doesn’t see his new role as an excuse to feel sorry for himself, but rather as an opportunity to be the best at whatever the team needs him to be.
“Cover photo: taken from Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports”
“This article is compiled from Exclusive: Russell Westbrook Opens Up About Role With Clippers》
2023-12-19 18:49:18
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