With LA’s summer squad taking the floor at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, the newly-minted Lakers head coach joined NBA TV’s broadcast of the game, where he made sure to express his excitement to coach the former MVP. Ham, who plans to employ a four-out, one-in offense in LA, envisions Westbrook thriving during the 2022-23 season.
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“Russ, in my opinion, man — he’s in great shape, he’s durable, and in this system — this four-out, one-in system — he’s gonna have a chance to screen and roll and make plays in the half roll,” Ham said on NBA TV.
He continued, adding that “(Westbrook is) gonna have a chance to run on the break, slash, get layups. He’s gonna have a chance to sprint out to the corner, flatten the defense, get corner 3s, as well as the things that he already does well.”
If there was any uncertainty, Ham added a final thought to make it crystal clear: “I’m excited as hell to have Russell Westbrook on our team.”
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Ham’s excitement to coach Westbrook this upcoming season is the ultimate vote of confidence after Westbrook largely struggled throughout the 2021-22 campaign. Though he appeared in a team-high 78 games, Westbrook’s scoring average (18.5) was its lowest since his second season in the league and he was benched on multiple occasions, causing a rift between Westbrook and former head coach Frank Vogel.
That Ham continues to publicly express his support for Westbrook is a good sign for their relationship and the overall dynamic in Los Angeles.
Westbrook was one of a few Lakers to appear at Ham’s introductory press conference, where the coach said “Russell is one of the best players our league has ever seen, and there’s still a ton left in that tank,” adding that the two have already had a number of conversations about how things will go in the upcoming season.
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This all, of course, is amid trade rumors that suggest the Lakers are willing to do whatever it takes to part ways with Westbrook and his $47.1 million expiring contract in order to return to title contention. While a lack of health was the main culprit, a shaky fit between Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis led to a disappointing 33-49 finish for the Lakers, who failed to qualify for the West’s Play-In Tournament.
Ham’s continued advocacy for Westbrook could mean that the guard’s immediate future remains as a Laker, even if the relationship won’t last beyond the 2022-23 season. Conversely, the right trade offer could come along, ending the pairing between Ham and Russell before it even begins.
For now, the excitement remains.
