Russell Westbrook, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers, prepares to dunk the ball in the first half of a basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Los Angeles. Westbrook signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after not being claimed by any team on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — It didn’t take long for Russell Westbrook to join the Los Angeles Clippers.

The nine-time All-Star point guard signed with the Clippers on Wednesday after his previous contract was terminated.

Westbrook then entered the practice field to prepare for the team’s first practice since the All-Star break.

“I’m very excited. I love playing basketball and I have a lot of fun when I do,” Westbrook said. morning. It’s the biggest part of my day, and you know there’s nothing more important than that.”

Coach Tyronn Lue said Westbrook will play Friday when the Clippers host the Sacramento Kings. When asked how he envisioned the role Westbrook would play and if he thought he was going to start, Lue replied, “I consider it what you’re going to see on Friday.”

It was Wednesday at noon when Westbrook went from transferable to released.

Nine-time All-Star Westbrook was released Monday by the Utah Jazz. Neither team took advantage of his transferable status, not having the necessary space in the salary cap to take care of the 47 million owed to him from his contract which is about to expire.

The signing with the Clippers came after the physical tests. Los Angeles, fourth in the Western Conference with a 33-28 record, hosts Sacramento on Friday for its first game after the All-Star break.

With the move, Westbrook remains in Los Angeles, where he is from and where he was a standout player at UCLA. He played less than two seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Jazz on Feb. 10 on a three-team deal.

The 15-year veteran is averaging 15.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 28.7 minutes per game.

Westbrook will reunite with former Oklahoma City teammate Paul George. George recommended the playmaker’s hiring to the team’s board of directors.

The signing of Westbrook caps an intense three-week period in which the Clippers made numerous changes to the roster. They bought out Eric Gordon, who started his career with them in 2008 and was in Houston, and they got Bones Hyland from Denver.

They also acquired center Mason Plumlee from Charlotte in exchange for Reggie Jackson. The Los Angeles team also traded Luke Kennard to Memphis and John Wall to Houston.

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