Clippers’ Nicolas Batum thinks Ty Lue can revive Russell Westbrook’s career

PLAYA VISTA — Nicolas Batum doesn’t care about Russell Westbrook’s past. The Clippers forward has heard the stories, watched him play since they both entered the league 14 years ago and followed his career, which has gone from league MVP to expendable bench player.

And still, Batum endorses the Clippers’ move to acquire the talented but moody point guard who on Wednesday officially signed with the team. He believes Westbrook will fit in seamlessly.

“I’m just very excited to have him in our team (because) he can bring so much stuff,” Batum said. “With the roster we have I think it’s going to be perfect for us. I told you before, I don’t really care what happened to him. I mean, situations are different. Sometimes it doesn’t work, doesn’t fit and I don’t really care. All I care about is what can he do for us? And I think he can be great for us.”

Batum is speaking from experience. After a series of injuries and poor production in Charlotte, the Hornets found Batum expendable and waived him in 2020 after five seasons. He found out he had been let go on Twitter.

“I was tagged as the worst player in the NBA before I got here, so it depends,” Batum said. “Some situations work for you, some don’t. It doesn’t define you as a player.”

After clearing waivers, the Clippers took a chance and signed Batum for the 2020-21 season. He has twice re-signed with the Clippers, the second time in 2022 for two years and has re-established himself as a key fixture.

In his two-plus seasons in L.A., the 14-year veteran has averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists, largely off the bench.

“Ty Lue revived my career, gave me another chance to be a basketball player,” Batum said of the Clippers’ coach. “And I told him that last week. I mean, I’m not Russ, so if Russ can have the same bounce back, but at his level, it can be amazing.”

At 34 years old, Westbrook has shown he can still play basketball. In 52 games with the Lakers, he averaged 15.9 points, 7.5 assists and 6.2 rebounds even after being sent to the bench.

“It’s still pretty good numbers anyway, so can’t forget about it,” Batum said. But I mean, the impact he can have with us and with coaching by Ty Lue and his staff can be good.”

Batum isn’t the only one eager to see what Westbrook can do in a Clippers uniform. Center Mason Plumlee said he is “thrilled to play with him.”

“He’s a game-changer and as a big guy, he is somebody you want to play with,” Plumlee said before practice Thursday.

“Just seeing how he, his whole career, has made the game easy for his teammates. He’s gotten them in good spots, and he’s pushed the pace. And I think it was only two games, but right before the break, I think there was an effort to get some more transitions, some more easy (shots), and get the ball up the floor a little more. He can do that individually. So that’s exciting.”

Lue said he was impressed with Westbrook’s speed and passing abilities after Wednesday’s first practice and eager to see him pair up with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Marcus Morris Sr. and Ivica Zubac in a game. Westbrook could make his debut as a starter in Friday night’s home game against the Sacramento Kings.

“(His talent) makes us dangerous,” Lue said. “When PG and Kawhi and Marcus and those guys are spotted up and now you have Russ attacking the basket, it’s going be more spacing for him to get downhill and get to the basket, get to the free-throw line, and hopefully, make Zu better, let Zu get some easy baskets around the rim, which I know he can do that as well.

“Just excited to see how it looks tomorrow and going forward.”