Lakers: Russell Westbrook hoping to make huge assist off the court for LA

There is plenty of reason to be stoked about Russell Westbrook officially being a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. The addition of the elite point guard catapults the Lakers into that “Big 3” hierarchy, thus making the team an even bigger threat than they previously were.

It does not require too much effort to grasp just how special Russell Westbrook is from an on-the-court perspective. The 32-year-old talent has averaged a triple-double in 4 of the last 5 seasons. The only other player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of a full campaign is Oscar Robertson (1961-62).

Let alone his impressive statistics, it is worth noting another aspect of Westbrook’s game. The Brodie plays with a certain level of ferocity that is difficult to come by. In fact, he plays so hard to the point where the late great Kobe Bryant could not help but to comment on it at one point. The team’s Twitter page recently made a post on how highly Bryant thought of Westbrook.

Without a doubt, those are some incredible words of praise from one of the absolute best players the game has ever seen. One can imagine Westbrook will continue to bring that same type of “energy” to the City of Angels.

While the 2016-17 MVP’s skillset is undeniable, there is perhaps an even bigger element Westbrook hopes to put on display as a Laker. The nine-time All-Star recently expressed his desire to help the Los Angeles community as much as possible.

According to Matt Peralta of Lakers Nation, Westbrook stressed that assisting others is “the most important thing” in his book at the end of the day. Peralta provided further transcription of the former UCLA Bruin’s thoughts on the subject.

"“That was kind of the most important thing about being back home, being able to inspire and impact people, especially our youth in our communities and especially underserved communities especially in the city of L.A. kind of where I grew up at,” Westbrook explained. “My focus will be giving to the community like it’s always been and I will continue to find ways to uplift our communities as much as I can.”"

Although Russell Westbrook certainly wants to help the Los Angeles Lakers secure their 18th NBA championship this coming season, it is refreshing to see that he is aware of the bigger picture.

The triple-double machine has always prioritized helping those in need and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.

For instance, Koco McAboy of Fox 11 noted a cause Westbrook himself initiated way back in 2012. She revealed that he started a foundation called the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation at the time, a foundation whose mission is to encourage youngsters and produce opportunities of empowerment for at-risk communities.

In conjunction with his foundation, McAboy brought to light other ways the floor general has helped others throughout his illustrious career. For example, she alluded to Russell’s positive impact on the Crenshaw YMCA. Westbrook recently teamed up with the Jordan Brand and helped fund the construction of a new basketball court, among various other upgrades at the facility.

That being said, one can surmise that the Los Angeles native will continue to improve the lives of local folks given that he is on the Lakers. Granted, he has not suited up for the purple and gold yet, it is clear he is more than capable of dishing out dimes off the hardwood.

In full view of this, there is reason as to why The Brodie was penciled in as a finalist for the 2020-21 NBA Cares Community Assist Award. It is more than discernible that the Lakers’ playmaker yearns to make a crucial difference in the lives of those who need an extra boost. To no surprise, the 13-year veteran won the honor back in 2014-15.

In terms of this past season, though, Westbrook touched the lives of others in a variety of ways. Chase Hughes of Yahoo Sports unveiled that the baller connected with the L.A. Regional Food Bank in an effort to disseminate Thanksgiving meals to needy families. In addition, No. 0 teamed up with Varo Bank earlier this year to aid in the improvement of financial literacy in minority communities. What is amazing is that these couple examples merely scratch the surface when it comes to how philanthropic Westbrook truly is.

Certainly, having Westbrook back in L.A. after all these years is a treat in itself. As was previously echoed, the amount of energy and swagger he brings to the court every single night is contagious. Thus, one can suspect all eyes will be on him to perform at an elite level.

However, it is even more spectacular knowing that the man plans to maximize his platform while donning the purple and gold. The former UCLA Bruin is dedicated to assisting those in need, which should be of huge benefit to the entire city.

Simply put, L.A., in general, is extremely lucky to have Russell Westbrook on their side. His athletic talents are beyond belief. Nevertheless, it is admirable that his most important priority is geared toward racking up assists off the court. That is the makeup of a true superstar.