Hoops Habit’s favorite moments and stories from the 2022-23 NBA season

Weston Titus: from maligned scapegoat to playoff hero.

Coming off of a disastrous first season with the Lakers in 2021-22, Russell Westbrook was once again the subject of endless trade rumors throughout the offseason. He ended up staying put and finding himself once again in an awkward role as a ball-dominant guard playing alongside LeBron James.

Despite pressure on coach Darvin Ham to send Westbrook to the bench, he started the year in the starting lineup and once again struggled to even come close to his career production. By the end of October, the plug was finally pulled and Westbrook was sent to the bench and accepted his role as a 6th man. This newfound spot for Westbrook helped him find a groove and be a more productive player but was still a tough pill to swallow for the Lakers with a $47,000,000 salary relegated to the bench.

As the trade deadline loomed, fans continued to be frustrated with Westbrook, and the joy the team once found with him, even amid his struggles, seemed to fade. Finally, the day after LeBron James set the all-time scoring record in a triumphant moment that overshadowed a crucial loss for Los Angeles, Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz in a 3-team 8-player deal. It ended an awkward, frustrating, and toxic tenure for Westbrook with the Lakers that saw awkward team meetings, infuriated fans, and put a future Hall of Famer in a position where he could not play as himself.

Utah quickly bought Westbrook out of his contract, and within days Westbrook was staying in town to team up with old teammate Paul George and the LA Clippers. Westbrook was put back into a starting role for a team that had been looking for answers at the point guard position and thrived with a newfound trust from his teammates and coaching staff.

Westbrook saw his effective FG% skyrocket from 46% with the Lakers to a career high 53.8% with the Clippers. His 3-pointers were falling, his assists were up, and he became a beloved and important part of a Clippers team with championship aspirations. He was playing with a joy, confidence, and trust from his team that was impossible to imagine just a few weeks earlier with the Lakers

In Game 1 of the Clippers’ first-round series against Phoenix, where they found themselves as underdogs, Westbrook became a playoff hero with incredible defense on former teammate Kevin Durant and a game-winning play on Devin Booker to steal Game 1.

After Kawhi Leonard got hurt in Game 2, Westbrook and the Clippers would show an admirable fight but eventually fall to the Suns in 5 games. Despite the loss, Westbrook put himself back on the map with a passion, athleticism, and confidence that has helped him build a hall-of-fame resume and establish himself as one of the most unique and athletic point guards in NBA history.

With Westbrook being an unrestricted free agent this offseason, It remains to be seen if he will find himself back with the Clippers or with a new team, but after a miserable start to the season, he showed why plenty of teams will be vying for his services this season.