New Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley ‘tremendous excited’ to play alongside Russell Westbrook

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Patrick Beverley was nonetheless sweating from a exercise on the Los Angeles Lakers follow facility when Russell Westbrook delivered an help.

Westbrook interrupted Beverley’s Lakers introductory press convention with reporters to toss him a towel, ensuring his new backcourt teammate appeared good.

“Love that brother,” an appreciative Beverley stated. “First dime of the 12 months.”

Westbrook put apart any rivalry with Beverley and was the one Laker to attend Beverley’s first official look with the group. Whereas it stays to be seen how this point-guard pairing may work collectively alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Westbrook and Beverley set the tone on Tuesday that they’re able to group up, embracing one another after Beverley was carried out speaking.

“Tremendous excited,” Beverley interrupted when requested about his relationship and match with Westbrook. ” … I used to be requested this query two, three years in the past, (about) somebody I all the time wished to play with and he was the primary title. I’ve (identified) Bron since I used to be a child, a rookie on this league so clearly I wish to play with him.

“However a participant with that aggressive spirit, that fireside, that can, that canine, that nastiness, that grit, to have a operating mate like that, I’ve by no means had that. So I’m tremendous excited to see the place it goes. Clearly like all relationship or any marriage, issues, we’re going to have powerful conversations. That’s what comes with profitable however I’m enthusiastic about these conversations, I’m excited concerning the practices. I’m simply excited to have the ability to compete with somebody like that.”

Westbrook and Beverley are used to competing towards each other and it bought contentious at occasions. Throughout Recreation 2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s playoff collection towards the Houston Rockets in 2013, Beverley collided with Westbrook’s knee whereas going for a steal. Westbrook needed to have surgical procedure to restore a lateral meniscus tear in his proper knee.

Practically a decade later, the 2 are teammates and have been laughing collectively after Westbrook’s towel cross to Beverley. New Lakers coach Darvin Ham stated he will not be afraid to start out each level guards collectively if that helps enhance the group.

“In the event that they play protection,” Ham defined on whether or not he might begin the duo. “We have awhile. That is nonetheless a methods off, however undoubtedly. Folks get caught up within the beginning lineups quite a bit, however you take a look at who’s ending video games. These starters, they’re on the market to set that tone for your entire group all through the sport.”

“However, I am not afraid of that,” Ham added. “It is undoubtedly a bullet within the chamber. We’re trying ahead to it man, these guys within the backcourt collectively, man.”

Beverley described the match with Westbrook as “good.”

“I shoot a ton out of the precise nook wing,” stated Beverley, who was dealt from Utah to the Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. “He posts on the left wing out of ATO’s, he likes to publish on the precise wing. I shoot 50 p.c from the left nook 3. It really works. To have one other ballhandler on the market with me, clearly with LeBron additionally, the extra ballhandlers the higher you might be as a group.”

Beverley spent 4 seasons with the LA Clippers earlier than he was traded to Minnesota previous to final season. The veteran — who was shocked to be traded from the Timberwolves after a playoff look to Utah this offseason — acknowledges how completely different it’s in Los Angeles to be a Laker now. However, Beverley is aware of all that issues is getting the Lakers again to the playoffs.

And he hopes to convey a relentless will day-after-day to get the Lakers all on the identical web page after final season’s chaotic disappointment.

“I simply really feel like they did not make the playoffs final 12 months,” Beverley stated when requested about coming to a group with 17 championship banners. “We’re being trustworthy, that is simply the reality, so you may see all of the banners, however you already know, it is what have you ever carried out for me recently? And recently, (the Lakers) have not been a great group. And I am right here. Clearly, Coach Ham is right here.

“The polarizing figures out right here, what is the purpose, how will we get to it, how will we win, what will we do? What will we sacrifice? What will we surrender? Everyone desires to go to the financial institution and take out, however it’s a must to give one thing additionally to be a profitable group. So what are you gonna surrender? And that is my factor and that is what I am gonna implement.”

And Beverley is trying ahead to taking part in alongside James. Beverley has talked earlier than about how a lot he has wished to be on James’ group.

“Who does not?” Beverley stated. “You are speaking about GOAT standing, not solely him, you are speaking about GOAT standing all the way in which throughout.”

“We’re a matchup drawback, we’re a matchup drawback for anyone,” Beverley added. “To ensure that us to be a matchup drawback, we’ve to get to the playoffs, and playoffs are matchups, and we’re a matchup drawback for everyone, throughout the board, and we all know that. And our enterprise is simply attending to the playoffs and we get to the playoffs, the blokes who, all that polarizing determine, now you guys take us the place we gotta go, that is the mindset.”