Exclusive: Russell Westbrook Opens Up About Role With Clippers

Westbrook is embracing his new role in pursuit of a championship

When Russell Westbrook re-signed with the LA Clippers, he was returning to a situation where he was expected to be the team's starting point guard after their multi-year search for the right one next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The arrival of James Harden did not instantly reduce Westbrook's role, but a five game losing streak led to a starting lineup change, and Westbrook's minutes have been decreasing since. 

Since moving to the bench, Westbrook is averaging just 20.6 minutes per game, and an even fewer 17.2 minutes per game since December 6th - which is when Ty Lue first went away from the Harden/Westbrook pairing entirely. 

This degree of sacrifice is not what Westbrook envisioned when the Clippers acquired Harden, and it's certainly not something he could have seen when he chose to re-sign for less money. That said, the former league MVP understands what it means to truly sacrifice, and is willing to do that in pursuit of a championship.

"I’ve been in the league so long, I understand the definition of true sacrifice and understanding what that looks like," Westbrook told AllClippers following Saturday night's win over the New York Knicks. "Sometimes it might not be how you want it, but if it’s for the betterment of the team, that’s the most important part. This is a team game, and I know the most important goal - that’s to win a championship."

While Westbrook was first signed by the Clippers to be the point guard they'd been missing during the Leonard and George era, he was also brought in to be the vocal leader they'd been missing. This was something everyone in the locker room spoke about last season, and it's something Ty Lue said saved the team. 

Whether this was pushing the Clippers' veterans in practice, leading on the court during games, or mentoring young players, Westbrook embraced this leadership role. No longer playing heavy minutes, this element of Westbrook's impact is something that could have gotten lost, but that hasn't been the case.

Rarely sitting down on the bench, Westbrook is always coaching Terance Mann, Kobe Brown, and other younger players on the team. When asked why he's doing this, when others in his position might choose to pout, Westbrook called it his duty.

"You can’t just lead when you want to," Westbrook told AllClippers. "Part of my duty ever since I’ve been in this league is to lead. Regardless of what’s going on, those guys need to learn and understand how important their role is for this team. Any time I get a chance, 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 Westbrook stated, this is something he has been doing since he entered the league. So many of Westbrook's former teammates have raved about this leadership, and Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant spoke exclusively with AllClippers about his experience with Westbrook when the two were teammates in Oklahoma City.

"It was amazing," Grant said of his time with Westbrook. "He took me under his wing. My third year in the league I get traded to OKC, and right away he took me under his wing. We built a bond, he got to know me as a person, and he allowed for me to build my confidence on the court. He's a huge reason why I am where I am today."

Grant's experience is one of many just like it. It's one of the reasons Westbrook's overall impact on a team, especially this Clippers team, can't be measured statistically.

Another way Westbrook's impact cannot be measured, even in this new role, is the energy he provides the second he checks into a game. Making a substantial impact in such a limited time on the floor, Westbrook's ability to change the complexion of a game in one shift is unmatched in many ways.

"I understand my worth and my abilities," Westbrook told AllClippers. "No matter how many minutes I’m on the floor, I know that I’m a force of energy. God has blessed me with that ability."

This is what Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said about Westbrook when asked about his new role off the bench, saying, "Russ is such an explosive player, and he changes the game as soon as he's on the floor, just with his power and his speed."

This energy is also something the crowd feeds off of. Clippers fans erupt every time Westbrook enters a game, and they get even louder each time he makes a play. Westbrook hears this, and he wants to repay those fans with his play on the court.

"I want the people who come to the game, whether I’m on the court for five minutes or 20 minutes, it don’t really matter - when I’m on the floor I make sure I compete and give everything I have," Westbrook said. "I know my duty is to play hard every single night, and make sure the people who come to the game enjoy the time that I’m on the floor."

For Westbrook, it would be human nature to not approach his new role with the same tenacity he attacked last year's playoffs with, when he averaged 33.5 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 6.0 RPG in Games 3 and 4 to give the Clippers hope without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Instead, he's embraced everything that's come with this new role, from pouring into the team's youth, to electrifying the crowd in the minutes he's given.

This is something Steve Kerr said every team needs when asked about the element of sacrifice, saying, "I think every team has to have someone set a tone. For us, eight years ago, it was Andre Iguodala. He had never come off the bench his entire career, and he agreed to do it, and eight months later he was Finals MVP. It felt like the basketball gods shining down on him."

The level of which Westbrook is being asked to sacrifice is not easy, but it goes back to something he said before the season began. When asked who he is as a teammate, Westbrook said, "I genuinely enjoy seeing other people do better. That's really who I am... I take myself out of the equation... I’ll take all the bullets for anybody, I’ll take all the heat, I don’t really give a damn, because I know what’s important to my teammate."

Not everybody enjoys the success of others, and even fewer enjoy it at the expense of their own shine. But that is what Westbrook is doing right now. Capable of much more than he's being asked to do, Westbrook hasn't approached his new role as an excuse to feel sorry for himself, but rather as an opportunity to be great in every area the Clippers need him to be great in.