By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
One of the goals that newly appointed Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham has set is to take the maximum from Russell Westbrook by implementing a new way to use the former MVP and nine-time All-Star guard.
In an interview with Marc J. Spears and Andscape, Ham talked about the criticism that Westbrook has been receiving and that he had conversations with him about his role.
“Counted out prematurely,” Ham said on Westbrook. “Counted out. Prematurely. I’ve had some great interactions with Russ, in person, over dinner, over the phone, over text messages. I love Russell Westbrook, man. Just his mentality, his approach. Just to see him, a guy of that magnitude and everything he’s done in the league to get hated on. But being me, I got a wholehearted plan, a clear plan on how I’m going to use him. I showed it to him, sat down, brought stuff up for him. I think he’s going to flourish. We ain’t going to try to curtail his energy. We’re just going to diversify it, redirect it.”
Ham also mentioned that Westbrook is going to remain a starter.
Westbrook is staying with the Lakers, exercising his 47.1 million option for 2022-23. It’s the fifth and final season in a contract he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder back in 2017 and was inherited by the Houston Rockets and the Lakers.
Last season, Westbrook averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 78 games.