Lakers head coach Darvin Ham recently spoke highly of point guard Russell Westbrook, recognizing the resilience and impact he brought to the team. During an episode of the #thisleague UNCUT podcast, Ham praised Westbrook for his ability to endure criticism while still remaining a highly capable basketball player.
“I appreciate him for just giving it a chance and complying with what I wanted to do and just taking a bullet for the team,” said Ham, expressing gratitude towards Westbrook’s willingness to adapt (h/t ClutchPoints).
Ham also highlighted the positive impact Westbrook had when coming off the bench, reminiscing about the moments when the crowd chanted MVP for him. Westbrook’s energetic presence often sparked the team, helping them overcome slow starts and generate impressive runs.
“People forget, man, when he came in from that reserve role, and we would put runners and shooters and rim rollers and finishers around him,” Ham recalled. “He saved our ass a bunch of nights where we started off flat and he came in and he pushed the tempo. He brought that energy.”
The Lakers ultimately traded Westbrook to the Jazz in a three-team trade, followed by a contract buyout agreement. He then signed with the Clippers, where he continued to showcase his skills during the regular season and playoffs.
