Russell Westbrook has officially retired from the NBA. He never played a game for the Utah Jazz, but is still remembered in Jazz history for ironic reasons. Utah acquired him twice over the past decade. The first was from the Lakers in 2023, and the second was from the Clippers in 2024.
As all Jazz fans know, the former MVP and future Hall of Famer never suited up for the Jazz. It's just fun history to know he was traded there twice without having played a game in Utah. However, Westbrook leaves a bigger mark, as the first trade played a hand in the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade.
Utah didn't acquire Westbrook for any sort of value he brought to the floor. He was still a good player, but the Jazz had no use for him at the time. However, the Jazz made the deal for him to get value out of Mike Conley Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley.
For their troubles, they got a top-four protected pick from the Lakers. Before the Luka Doncic trade, that had value, but even after that, it was valuable enough that Memphis wanted in it in their blockbuster package for JJJ.
We won't know how this will pay off, and it's likely Utah would have made the deal regardless of whether they had that Lakers pick or not, but the fact is, the first Westbrook trade was one of the dominos that brought the Jazz here.
That domino alone may lead to an extraordinary era of Jazz basketball
There's a lot to like about the Jazz's makeup with much of it being because Jackson is on their team. He is a multi-time All-Star, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and one of the rare NBA bigs that can defend and space the floor at an elite level. He is also capable of creating his own shot, though Utah may not ask him to do that as much as Memphis did.
Jazz fans have been giddy with anticipation for what Jackson will bring to the playoff contender Utah both hopes and expects to be next season. He has both the talent and the experience to change the Jazz's fortunes by himself.
That Lakers pick the Jazz got for acquiring Westbrook played a role in the game-changing player they acquired three years later back in February. It's time like those that make the fanbase appreciate trades like the one Utah made when they brought in Westbrook.
Even if he never played a game as a Jazzman, the fanbase has a legitimate reason to be grateful that Westbrook was technically a part of the Jazz. If Jackson brings a title to Utah, Westbrook's impact on the Jazz should be revered for more than ironic reasons.
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