By Chris Monter
FOXSportsNorth.com
February 17, 2011
Lawrence Westbrook was a Big Ten honorable mention selection as a junior and senior at Minnesota. The six-foot guard averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game and shot 41 percent from behind the arc as a senior last season.
Westbrook helped lead the Golden Gophers to consecutive NCAA Tournaments and equally important to Minnesota fans, a 78-74 overtime victory over hated rival Wisconsin. He made 10 of 16 shots from the field, including both 3-point attempts and a perfect seven of seven from the line as he scored a game-high 29 points.
Wisconsin was leading by as many as 14 points early in the second half and had a nine-point lead with 3:24 left. However, Westbrook made a game-tying 3-pointer with 2 seconds left in regulation and then scored nine points in overtime.
FOXSportsNorth.com caught up with Westbrook Saturday to talk about his memories of his four years at Minnesota and life in the NBDL, which is the NBA's version of the minor leagues.
Westbrook suffered a broken left foot Friday night in the NBDL's Dakota Wizards' game versus the Iowa Energy and was sidelined for their Saturday rematch. Westbrook was acquired from Maine via the Available Player Pool. He was drafted in this year's NBA Development League Draft in the third round by the Maine Red Claws. Westbrook averaged 3.8 points and 1.2 assists in five game in the Las Vegas Summer League for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
What happened with the injury Friday night?
"It was just a freak accident. A leg got caught up under me and I slid. My body went somewhere and my leg went the other way."
The injury had come after you had a 3-pointer and were off to a good start in that game?
"It's a part of basketball. You just have to see when I get my MRI what the damage is and go from there."
You started the season with Maine and now are with the Dakota Wizards. Your numbers are up. How has the move to your new team been?
"It's been great. I love these guys here. This is probably the best group I've played with. They made it very comfortable for me. I was playing really well. I just give credit to my coaches and my teammates."
What is life like in the NBDL? Everyone knows what the NBA is like and you are trying to get there. What is it like?
"It is a grind. You have to constantly prove yourself. Catching two or three flights and having to bus to get somewhere, but I can't complain. I love basketball and if this is what I have to do, then you know I'm all for it."
You played with the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team. What all have you been doing since you left the Gophers?
"Just summer league and after that, just working out. I had to decide, if I was going to go overseas or come here and I decided to come to the "D" League. I've learned a lot. I think that it has paid off so far. I've just got to get healthy, so I can get back on the court."
The Chicago Bulls were in attendance to watch James Johnson, their 2009 first round pick tonight. Have you seen a number of NBA scouts at your games and is that one of the reasons that you decided to play in the NBDL where you could be seen by NBA people rather than go overseas where you might not be seen by as many people?
"Yes. That is a big thing. A lot of people who don't know a lot about the "D" League say certain things, but there are so many NBA players that are playing in this league that is heavily scouted. This is a really good league. After the NBA, this is the best league, so why not want to play here."
If the Dakota Wizards played a Big Ten team, what would the score be?
"We'd win by 70 points. Especially if we played with the NBA 3-point line, we'd win by 70."
What type of things have you been working to improve yourself as a player?
"Just everything. Shooting, dribbling, passing. You can never be too good. Just constantly improving in every aspect of the game. That is going to help anybody."
Are you going to try to work a little bit more on your point guard skills? You have always been a scorer, but at your size in the NBA, you would have to be a little bit more of a playmaker.
"Yes. That is one of the reasons I came here. I have run a lot of point here. When I was out on the court, I was averaging 11 points in 19 minutes. I can still score the basketball and I was watching J.J. Barea of the (Dallas) Mavericks and he was playing the "2" and getting buckets. Nate Robinson comes in and he is playing the "2." Even my teammate Stefhon Hannah of Missouri, he is smaller than me and he is playing the "2." I'm a basketball player, you know what I mean."
When you look back at your time at Minnesota, what stands out as some of the highlights for you?
"The biggest things that stands out right now because Wisconsin is beating people at home and just beat Ohio State at home. People talk about how you can't beat Wisconsin at home and we beat them there. That is just sticking out to me right now."
Was that probably your best game at Minnesota because you almost single-handedly won that game for the Gophers?
"Yes. That is definitely the most memorable. Them being our rival and because they never lose there and even now people talk about how hard it is to win there, but we were able to, as their biggest rivals, come out with a win there. That was probably the most memorable game."
Have you had a chance to see the Gophers much with your busy schedule?
"Yes. I've got a chance to see them. I wish all the freshmen good luck and especially, the players that I played with Blake (Hoffarber) and Al (Nolen). Trevor (Mbakwe) is really doing well. He is a monster. Ralph (Sampson III) and Colton (Iverson) and everybody. I wish everybody good luck."
What are your plans for the summer, which should be a big offseason for you?
"Get healthy. You always want to play summer league and get into a camp, like everybody else and see what happens."
