The incredible Russell Westbrook has truly刷新ed people's perception this year. In the last game where the Nuggets defeated the Jazz, Westbrook went 7 for 7, scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 10 assists, and making 4 steals, with a plus-minus of +23 and no turnovers. This is the second time Westbrook has achieved such statistics, and currently, only Nikola Jokic can match him in the league, with both having done so twice. This is why the Nuggets' official account posted a photo of Westbrook and Jokic after the game, praising our triple-double brothers.
Westbrook's triple-double record is most likely to be broken by Jokic, but isn't this also a good thing for Westbrook? Among all the teammates he has partnered with throughout his career, we won't say whose problem it is, but in terms of compatibility, Jokic is undoubtedly the best fit for Westbrook. Moreover, Jokic encountered Westbrook at his minimum salary, who is now more mature. Westbrook's character remains that of a young master, but his experiences during the low points of the past few years have allowed him to gradually find a playstyle more suitable for himself.
At this stage of his career, Westbrook began to understand that clinging to past glory is meaningless; he needs to relearn. In the past few years, Westbrook has admitted that he cared too much about triple-double stats. Especially during his time with the Thunder, focusing on stats sometimes hindered the full display of his strengths. The current Westbrook has abandoned his past pride, treating himself as a rookie just entering the league. He maximizes his strengths in defense and organization. This is what Westbrook was good at as a rookie; he should have been a defensive anchor in the league, and he has that talent.
We've mentioned before that if Westbrook were still in his Thunder days, it would be difficult for him to coexist with Jokic. Both need the ball, and sometimes they get carried away and like to shoot recklessly, not focusing on defense. However, at this stage, Westbrook has truly achieved a perfect switch between being a core player and a role player. When playing alongside Jokic, Westbrook acts as a blue-collar worker, fully committing to defense and rebounding, tearing apart the opponent's space, and completing plays with Jokic. When Jokic is off the court, Westbrook returns to being himself, exerting his effect as a connector.
Looking at Westbrook's performance over the past eight games, he has averaged 15.1 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals in 31 minutes per game, with a shooting percentage of an astonishing 58.4% and a true shooting percentage of a terrifying 62.1%. This is from a point guard. In terms of plus-minus, Westbrook stands at +52. The Nuggets' media have said that Westbrook has found his user manual in Denver. The current Westbrook is not driven by money; what he wants is a championship. As Malone said, the Nuggets must help Westbrook win the championship, living up to the value he brought with his $300,000 annual salary this year.
Malone stated, "If Westbrook retires now, he could directly enter the NBA Hall of Fame. I believe he is one of the best point guards of all time. I appreciate his leadership and resilience in Denver this year. Every game, when we are about to give up, Westbrook's energy keeps us fighting. He is a superstar, but now he is willing to put aside his ego and sees himself as a role player. Westbrook joined the Nuggets to win a championship, and that's why I love him; he has made many sacrifices. We must return to that stage with him; we cannot stop here."
After winning the championship in 2023, the Nuggets became complacent, with the entire team, except for Jokic, lacking hunger. Murray, Gordon, and Porter Jr. all started to coast, as the taste of a championship can become dull once achieved. However, Westbrook's joining this year has indeed changed the dull atmosphere of the Nuggets. Recently, Murray has started to step up, and Porter Jr. is getting fiercer with each game. Once Gordon returns, the Nuggets' starting lineup will be formidable. Moreover, the Nuggets are considering letting Westbrook start long-term alongside Murray. When Jokic suggested bringing in Westbrook at his lowest point, there was no shortage of doubts, but now the Nuggets have proven that Jokic's bet has paid off. Currently, the Nuggets are fifth in the Western Conference standings, just a step away from the fourth-placed Mavericks.