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When Russell Westbrook joined the LA Lakers before the 2021-22 season, expectations were high. The hope was that Westbrook would be the perfect addition alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
After his first year in Los Angeles, it looked as if that dream was instead a nightmare. Westbrook saw a rapid decline in his play and looked to be a shell of his former self, averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. While the numbers look good on paper, Westbrook also shot just 29.8% from 3-point range.
Fast forward to the 2022-23 season, and Westbrook was viewed as a player that was on thin ice. After being moved to a bench role by coach Darvin Ham, many wondered how the veteran would respond. So far, it's been a pleasant surprise to see Westbrook looking like the player of old.
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It's gotten the attention of sports analyst Skip Bayless. On "Undisputed," Bayless praised Westbrook. It was a back-handed compliment though, as Bayless reminded the listeners just how bad the veteran guard was last season.
"The rebirth of Russell Westbrook is as shocking to me as how bad he was last year," Bayless said.
LA Lakers guard Russell Westbrook looks to build off impressive recent play
The LA Lakers seemed to be on the verge of trading Russell Westbrook at the beginning of the season. After a resurgence from the veteran guard, Westbrook now looks to be a potential key piece moving forward. Time will tell if the Lakers 11-16 decide to hold onto Westbrook beyond the NBA's trade deadline in February.
The recent results cannot be ignored. Since coming off the bench, Westbrook has looked to be a more confident and efficient player. In those games, Westbrook is averaging 15.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 7.9 apg in 28.2 minutes. He's also shooting 41.7%, including 31.1% from 3-point range.
Los Angeles has started to show some glimpses of hope when it comes to a potential playoff push. They will need to turn it up to another level, especially to climb the Western Conference standings. The Lakers are currently 11-16. It's a promising position, especially compared to starting at 2-10.
For now, Russell Westbrook looks to be finding his groove with the LA Lakers. Time will tell if that Westbrook will be a part of the team's plans for the rest of the season.
