Lakers’ Patrick Beverley on playing alongside Russell Westbrook: ‘Super excited’

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Two weeks after being acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers in a trade with the Utah Jazz, Patrick Beverley was introduced as a Laker for the first time on Tuesday, and only one teammate was in attendance. 

Russell Westbrook. 

Russell Westbrook of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball at Footprint Center on April 5, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

"Super excited," Beverley said when asked about playing with Westbrook. "I was asked this question two, three years ago, about someone I always wanted to play with and he was the first name. I’ve been knowing Bron [LeBron James] since I was a baby, a rookie in this league, so obviously, I want to play with him.

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"But a player with that competitive spirit, that fire, that will, that dog, that nastiness, that grit. To have a running mate like that, I have never had that. So I am super excited to see where it goes. Obviously like any relationship or any marriage, things, we are going to have tough conversations. That's what comes with winning, but I’m excited about those conversations, I’m excited about the practices. I’m just excited to be able to compete with someone like that."

Patrick Beverley of the Timberwolves boards the plane before a playoff game against the Memphis Grizzlies, at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on April 25, 2022. (David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

Westbrook and Beverley have a contentious relationship dating back to the 2013 season, when Beverley went for a steal as a member of the Houston Rockets, colliding with Westbrook’s knee