Russell Westbrook Expected to Make Los Angeles Clippers Debut Friday

One of the NBA's most divisive superstars is set to make his debut on his fifth team in five years. Russell Westbrook was not listed on the NBA's Injury Report, indicating he should be ready to make his first appearance for the Los Angeles Clippers against the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

And Ivica Zubac is out tomorrow vs Kings due to a right calf strain.

Brandon Boston Jr. and Jason Preston also out on G League assignment.

Russell Westbrook should be active. Norman Powell cleared.

We'll see about Moussa Diabaté and Keaton Wallace, they're unlisted as well. https://t.co/8ClkEJfRkS
— Law Murray 💔 (@LawMurrayTheNU) February 24, 2023

Westbrook arrives with the Clippers via circuitous means. He was traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Utah Jazz at the deadline as part of the package that landed the Lakers D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Jared Vanderbilt. The Jazz then promptly bought out Westbrook, leaving him free to sign with the team of his choosing. He settled on the Clippers, reuniting with his former Oklahoma City Thunder teammate Paul George.

Westbrook mostly came off the bench this season for the Lakers, accumulating an impressive 15.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, but at a miserable .496 true shooting percentage. He's in the middle of arguably his worst season since 2009-10, but the Clippers are banking on the possibility that he can thrive in a new situation.

It wasn't that long ago that Westbrook was an All-Star. He averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game with the Houston Rockets in 2019-20 with a career-high .472 field goal percentage. But Westbrook has demonstrated an inability to carve out a role in a functional team and has been sent packing by five different organizations since 2019.

At 34 years old, there's still a chance Westbrook can find a place for himself, but he's running out of chances (and teams). Following Friday's game against the Kings, the Clippers face the Denver Nuggets Sunday night.