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City of Los Angeles will honor former Lakers guard Russell Westbrook

Even though Russell Westbrook's time with the Lakers was forgettable, what he has done off the court for the city of Los Angeles isn't.

The City of Los Angeles will honor former NBA guard Russell Westbrook with a Council certificate, recognizing his retirement from the league and his community work, according to The Athletic.

Westbrook spent 18 seasons in the NBA, including one and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, after being traded to the team in 2021. Despite initial criticism for his performance and personality, he has since become known for his philanthropic efforts.

A Southland native, Westbrook founded the Russell Westbrook Why Not? Foundation in 2012, which focuses on educational opportunities, workforce development, and mental health resources for underserved communities in Los Angeles and Southern California.

The city's recognition comes after Westbrook's team, the Lakers, saw an improvement in their performance after he was traded away during the 2022-23 season. The ceremony, organized by Councilwoman Heather Hutt from District 10, will take place at 10 a.m. local time in City Hall on Friday.

Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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