As D.C. comes to terms with the loss of the Washington Wizards’ longtime guard and beloved community fixture John Wall, his replacement, former Houston Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook, made his first press appearance with the team on Saturday, vowing to “give back” to his new city.

“I am a man of my word, so if I said that I’m going to give back and do things for the community, then I will,” Westbrook said to reporters via a Zoom call. “There’s so much African American history here… and I’m definitely already doing my due diligence on who I need to talk to and understanding how I can impact [the community].”

The Wizards announced Wall’s trade last week, leaving many Washington fans heartbroken over the deal. During his 10 years with the team, Wall served as a pillar of the community in Southeast D.C. His foundation set up a rent relief program for Ward 8 residents during the pandemic, and this past Thanksgiving he donated 1,000 meals to Ward 8 community members. 

His departure leaves the nine-time All-NBA Westbrook with big shoes to fill. He reportedly said in early November that he was “uneasy about the [Rockets’] accountability and culture,” and on Saturday shared his excitement to join an organization “that is on the path trying to the right things culturally, trying to do the rights things in the community.”

“Standing for the values of our organization, the values of the people here, to me that’s a huge thing,” Westbrook said. “Basketball, you’re only going to play a short amount of time in your life. But those relationships you gain while you play, the people you meet along the way, the people you impact along the way, those last for a lifetime.”

Westbrook will team up now with the Wizards’ star shooting guard Bradley Beal, Wall’s longtime teammate and friend. On Saturday, Westbrook said he looks forward to joining with one-half of the formerly Beal-Wall duo on the court.

“Watching Brad and seeing him and competing against him for years, I’ve always been a huge fan of his,” Westbrook said. “He’s like a silent assassin, but once the game starts, he gets to it. I’m just excited to be able to play alongside him and help in anyway I can.”

The Wizards and Rockets reportedly agreed to the trade last week in hopes of convincing Beal and the Rockets’ James Harden to stay with the teams, according to ESPN. The move reconnects Westbrook with Wizards’ coach Scott Brooks, who coached him during his first years with Oklahoma City Thunder.