Russell Westbrook‘s NBA journey has taken him through several franchises, but one brief interaction with fans on Friday suggested that not every stop carries fond memories.
The 36-year-old guard, who recently signed a one-year deal worth just over $3.6 million with the Sacramento Kings, attended the team’s preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers and took time to greet young supporters in the stands.
As Westbrook approached a group of fans holding up jerseys from his many career stops, he signed each one with ease, except for those bearing Lakers colors.
Observers noted that he appeared to skip the Lakers jerseys entirely before continuing on his way, an act that reignited conversation about his rocky tenure in Los Angeles.
Westbrook spent the entire 2021/22 season with the Lakers, playing 130 games for the franchise and averaging 17.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game.
A turbulent Los Angeles chapter
His time in purple and gold was as dramatic as it was short-lived. Westbrook, the 2017 NBA MVP, joined the Lakers amid great expectations, but the partnership never quite clicked. The team struggled with spacing and chemistry, and Westbrook‘s fit became one of the most talked-about topics in the league.
When he was traded to the Utah Jazz midway through the 2022-23 season, it marked the end of a tense period that tested both the player and the franchise. Utah quickly bought out his contract, making him a free agent.
Westbrook then signed with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he found a more defined role as a sixth man, a position that allowed him to thrive without the weight of star-level expectations.
He spent a season and a half with the Clippers before joining the Denver Nuggets, continuing to evolve into a high-energy veteran presence off the bench. His willingness to adapt and embrace that supporting role helped reshape public perception of his career, highlighting his leadership and effort rather than his inefficiency.
Still, memories of his time with the Lakers linger. For many fans, Westbrook‘s decision not to sign their jerseys may have felt like a small slight.
For him, however, it may simply represent a desire to move on from one of the most turbulent chapters of his professional life.
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