Russell Westbrook was traded by the LA Clippers earlier this summer, landing with the Utah Jazz where he agreed to a contract buyout for the second time in his NBA career.
Signed with the Clippers in 2023 after his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, Westbrook quickly established himself as a leader on and off the court. Particularly influential with the team’s younger players, Westbrook helped mentor young guard Bones Hyland as he navigated a fluctuating role after arriving from Denver.
“Russ has been a great leader for me,” Hyland said last season. “Since I got here. Even before. He’s always been the guy I could talk to… Throughout this whole process, he’s told me to stay grounded, stay hungry, stay in the gym and stay myself.”
