James Harden Urges “Frustrated” Russell Westbrook to Continue Major Sacrifice For 1 Reason

The Los Angeles Clippers‘ formidable quartet refused to back down against the Golden State Warriors. As a result, their first lead of the game came in the form of a Paul George game-winner. Despite the thrilling victory, tensions are brewing in the Clippers’ locker room; at least there is potential for it happening. As James Harden finds his rhythm within the roster, Russell Westbrook is clearly struggling to find his place.

However, the struggle is rooted not in Russ but in the franchise. Despite accepting a smaller role and paycheck as a former MVP, Westbrook’s primary need—playing time—is not being met. This has not only restricted Brodie from fully thriving on the court, but can also potentially put the former MVP in a bit of a dilemma.

James Harden has a few words for Russell Westbrook

When questioned about Russell Westbrook’s current role, James Harden offered words of wisdom to his longtime acquaintance. Advising Westbrook to persevere through the challenges, Harden acknowledged the potential frustrations stemming from Russ. He stated, “Just stay with it. It’s a long season. I know it’s probably frustrating for him, just cuz his minutes is fluctuating.”

Harden then highlighted the team’s ongoing efforts to optimize rotations and lineups, emphasizing the current process of figuring things out. Despite these uncertainties, James displayed unwavering confidence in Westbrook, concluding, “We all need somebody to pick us up and tell us it’s gonna be okay. It’s a process, we’re trying to figure it out.”

Read More – James Harden’s 5-Worded Message to Alperen Sengun Left the Rockets Star Starstruck

Westbrook has already sacrificed enough

Westbrook’s significant sacrifices with the Clippers are widely known. Despite All-Star caliber, Westbrook willingly comes off the bench and is settling for less than $4 million in pay per year.

However, it seems like Westbrook is still getting the short end of the stick. For instance, the Clippers have occasionally fallen short in providing Westbrook with a mere 20 minutes of action on the court. Furthermore, with his restricted role and the team’s ongoing struggle to find efficient rotations, Westbrook has also struggled to attempt at least 10 shots in several games.

Watch This Story – “Quarterback” LeBron James Rebukes Himself for Failed Crucial Play With Anthony Davis in Mavs Stinger

The numbers display a stark contrast to the majority of Russell’s career. Russ was accustomed to logging 30 or more minutes per game for the majority of his career. However, Westbrook now averages around 25 minutes with the Clippers. Moreover, the shift has also impacted his production, as he has failed to touch the 15-point mark in more than 10 games this season.