Russell Westbrook Says Move To LA Lakers Was Bigger Than Basketball

Russell Westbrook has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing players in all of basketball. While he was struggling with poor shot selection during his past few games, he also isn’t panicking at all. Westbrook is surprisingly energetic and it definitely has something to do with his move to LA.

Over the past week, the biggest story surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers has been the immense shooting struggles of Russell Westbrook. In his last four games, Westbrook is averaging 10.5 points per game on 25.4% from the field and 0-for-7 from three. To be playing a relatively ideal game and still be struggling to help his team, could be seen as frustrating.

However, Westbrook was surprisingly positive in his postgame press conference. Instead of short and simple answers, Westbrook made jokes about his shooting woes. The basketball star also had some fun at the expense of the Kings for their “Cold as ice” gimmick during the game.

According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Westbrook’s positive attitude comes from finally getting to be around family each and every day. “Yeah, man, I get to see my kids, my family, my mom, my dad,” he told The Athletic while he headed for the team bus. “To me, that’s more important than anything else. I’m able to be home and be able to embrace them. They get to see me, and as they get older I get to see my kids every day and take them to school every morning. To me, that brings joy.”

Although, Basketball means plenty to Westbrook given all that he’s been able to achieve, his move to L.A. was about more than just basketball. “I swear, nobody can imagine it for me because everybody thinks about basketball as the end-all-be-all, but it’s really not, you know?” he continued. “Sportswriters, everybody’s got their own opinion. But I really believe that me being able to do (be in LA) and embrace my kids, it makes them — it puts a smile on my face regardless of what’s happening now.”

So while the Lakers may have had second thoughts about this pairing, in other words, he has not. “No,” he said when asked if he had any regrets about the move. “Nah. I mean, not at all, because, as I told you, it’s bigger than basketball for me.”

Family is a driving force for many major decisions made by professional athletes. LeBron James also chose to come to the Lakers because he wanted his family to live in L.A. It is a sentiment that many players likely feel and Westbrook simply wants it known that being in L.A. with his family while playing for the Lakers is more important than any on-court achievement.

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