Report: Lawrence Frank Had To Convince Russell Westbrook To Come Off Bench, Process Was ‘Challenging’ For Clippers

May 5, 2024

According to NBA insiders Sam Amick and Law Murray of The Athletic, Los Angeles Clippers president Lawrence Frank had to convince Russell Westbrook to come off the bench.

NBA, Los Angeles Clippers, Russell Westbrook — Harry How/Getty Images

The process was “challenging” for the Clippers.

“The 35-year-old who lost his starting point guard job to James Harden in mid-November, and who team and league sources say had to be convinced by Frank to take on the sixth-man role when the organization’s power brokers deemed it a requirement, has a player option worth $4 million for next season,” Amick and Murray wrote. “Does the nine-time All-Star and former MVP want to continue in this kind of limited role while playing on a veteran’s minimum deal, or might he have played his way into a better opportunity elsewhere?

“Considering the challenges that came with him being relegated to a reserve role, with team and league sources indicating that the process was far more challenging behind the scenes than team officials had made it appear publicly, the answer may very well be the latter.”

Westbrook appeared in 68 games for the Clippers this season. He averaged 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field, 27.3% from beyond the arc and 68.8% from the free-throw line.

The Clippers won 51 games in the regular season but lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the 2024 playoffs in six games. Westbrook averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists versus the Mavericks while shooting 26.0% from the field, 23.5% from beyond the arc and 61.5% from the free-throw line.

Westbrook has a player option worth $4 million for next season. The NBA legend could decline that player option and leave the Clippers to play for a team where his usage rate is higher.

One of the best players in NBA history, Westbrook has career averages of 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. He’s the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles.