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Russell Westbrook no longer plays for the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers, but he is still giving back to the Southern California community.
Westbrook unveiled the new Westbrook Academy campus in South Gate, California, on Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a speech. The nine-time All-Star partnered with his wife Nina, business partner Donnell Beverly and the LA Promise Fund to found the academy that delivers education to students in grades 6-12 in South and Southeast Los Angeles.
The expanded campus and new educational facility has a film studio, science labs, two wellness centers and a student lounge in addition to the classrooms.
ANS Photography
ANS Photography
The Westbrooks and Beverly partnered with the LA Promise Fund to initially launch the Westbrook Academy in 2021.
A number of current and former NBA players reacted to Westbrook’s Instagram post about the event, including Jalen Rose, Victor Oladipo and Carlos Boozer, among others. What’s more, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Trae Young were among those who liked the post.
The future Hall of Famer played in Los Angeles the last three seasons for the Lakers and Clippers, but he signed with the Denver Nuggets this offseason.
About the only thing missing from a resume that includes the 2016-17 MVP, two scoring titles, nine All-NBA selections and three assist titles is a championship, and he is surely looking to change that by pairing up with Nikola Jokić and Co.
And he will have an entire academy cheering for him as he attempts to win that Larry O’Brien Trophy.
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