Russell Westbrook spent his first ten years of his career with Oklahoma City Thunder. He grew from first-round pick, All-Star, and league MVP. But the dream of one day returning to Los Angeles to play for his hometown Lakers seemed more distant than it was.Westbrook stated Tuesday that he wishes he could play for his home team, Los Angeles, and that he was able to do so at Tuesday's introductory news conference at Staples Center. But that was definitely something I've always thought about. Maybe one day. But, I'd always be back and say, "Ahh, that probably won’t happen."It was not as unlikely as it seemed that Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson with a triple-double in a season. He also stabilized the Thunder team after Kevin Durant left to join the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook has joined his third team in three years since leaving Thunder. He was a Houston Rocket, a Washington Wizard, and now he is a Laker. At the end of the day's celebrations, he wore a uniform number 0.The Long Beach native stated that it was "surreal". It still doesn't hit me, even though I'm from L.A. and grew up near the parades. I am a Laker fan, and I'm from L.A. but it seems that everything is coming full circle for my.Westbrook stated that a return to L.A. was still unlikely as the 32-year old combo guard owed $91 million and two years. However, a conversation with LeBron, who he described as a friend and teammate, changed things.Russell Westbrook, who was on Tuesday referring to being on the Lakers' team, said that it was "surreal". "It still hasn’t hit me yet," I think. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty ImagesWestbrook stated that "this stuff happened so quickly, and all of it happened so fast, the past two weeks or so." "But we have had brief discussions and discussed clearly what we need to accomplish."L.A. traded Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell–Pope to Washington, along with its 2021 first-round selection, to Westbrook last month. This was the first step in a nearly complete overhaul of last year's roster, which lost to the Phoenix Suns in the first round.Rob Pelinka, vice president of basketball operations for the team, said that it was an opportunity to make a bold move that would increase our chances of winning the 18th title for the Los Angeles Lakers. "This was an opportunity for us to maximize our ability to do what is most important to us, which is to bring the 18th title to this place."Westbrook was responsible for two of the titles that the Lakers won. L.A. and Kobe Bryant's 2010 run to the ring began with a win in round one over Westbrook's Thunder. James and the Lakers won the bubble championship in 2020 by beating Westbrook's Rockets twice.Bryant was Bryant's only contact outside of the Olympics, but Westbrook felt a close bond with Bryant.It hasn't stopped in my head. He said that there were things that we discussed -- him and me -- about the possibility of me being a Laker, and understanding what that means. It's crazy to think about and it will always be there for me when I put on that Laker jersey.Pelinka, Bryant's friend and agent, fondly recalled that Westbrook was one of the few players he believed to embody "Mamba Mentality".Bryant was described by Westbrook as "the first thing that brought us together was being competitive and not being allowed to take nights off."James, who will be turning 37 in December and is entering his 19th season, should have Westbrook as a backup."Bron is one the best players in this game and his ability to do almost everything on the floor allows him to help me figure it out," Westbrook said. He was the league's leader in assists last season. "I'm going to a championship-caliber squad and my job it is to make his game more enjoyable. I'll find ways to do this throughout the game."Frank Vogel, the Lakers' coach, joined Westbrook and Pelinka for Tuesday's event. He declared that L.A. will become an "extremely energetic and fast-breaking" team with Westbrook joining James and Anthony Davis. Vogel said that there are no fit issues between the three players because they "all make-the right-play players."Westbrook was accompanied at the event by Russ, his mother Shannon and Ray. This made it clear that he is a perfect fit for Los Angeles.He said, "Just being with my children all the while, being able see my mom and father all the time is to my mind the best thing that you could ask for." "Being back home."
