Sep 26, 2024; Denver, Co, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) during Denver Nuggets Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Russell Westbrook Shares Heartfelt Statement About Playing LA Clippers

Originally posted on Fastbreak on SI | By Ben Stinar | Last updated Apr 16, 2025 11:53 PM ET

On Saturday night, the Denver Nuggets will host the LA Clippers for Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series.

Russell Westbrook (who spent part of two seasons with LA) will get the chance to go up against his former team.

Via Arash Markazi of The Sporting Tribune: "The Clippers let Paul George and Russell Westbrook walk this offseason and dealt Terrance Mann and Bones Hyland at the trade deadline and finished with 50 wins and a top five seed. Just an incredible season from the Clippers that few outside of the team saw coming."

The Clippers let Paul George and Russell Westbrook walk this offseason and dealt Terrance Mann and Bones Hyland at the trade deadline and finished with 50 wins and a top five seed. Just an incredible season from the Clippers that few outside of the team saw coming.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) April 13, 2025

Before the series, Westbrook (who's family lives in Los Angeles) spoke about how he will get to see his kids.

Westbrook: "Fortunately for me, I get to go home and what's most important, see my kids and take them to school while I get to play basketball... Any opportunity I get a chance to go home and be around my family, which makes me the happiest and the most comfortable I'm grateful for that."