In life, success is fleeting, while failure is the main theme. However, how one faces failure distinguishes different people; some are defeated by it, while others rise and continue forward. The NBA league is no exception. Take LeBron James, the oldest active player in the NBA, for example: he has reached the NBA Finals ten times but missed out on the championship six times. Yet, his unparalleled career is evidenced by four championship rings and a series of personal honors and milestones, making him akin to the greatest of all time (GOAT)!
There is another star in the league who fears neither time nor storms, always remaining young, writing his own legend with speed and passion, which is quite inspiring and worth learning from!
I am referring to Russell Westbrook! Westbrook is lucky; at a young age, he reached the NBA Finals alongside Durant and Harden, leaving with his head held high even after losing to the Heat's Big Three led by LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. However, Westbrook is also unlucky, as that turned out to be his closest brush with an NBA championship! Fortunately, Westbrook never gives up or believes in defeat, earning titles such as scoring champion, assist leader, steal leader, and becoming the NBA's historical triple-double king! As fans say, even if Westbrook never wins a championship or retires right where he is, he will undoubtedly enter the Hall of Fame!
However, since leaving the Thunder, Westbrook began a turbulent and declining career, partnering with Harden in Houston, Beal in Washington, and teaming up with James and Davis in the Lakers, then with Kawhi and Paul George in the Clippers. Westbrook's fighting spirit never wanes, yet he gradually becomes a supporting role. Especially during his time with the Lakers, Westbrook became a target, and even after accepting a bench role, he could not escape being traded. He then took a pay cut, seemingly nearing the end of his career. This offseason, the Nuggets brought Westbrook's talent to the Denver plateau with a 2-year, $6.8 million contract. For Westbrook, Denver lacks the chaos of Los Angeles, presenting his last chance to save his career.
This season, Westbrook earns only $3.3 million annually, less than a fraction of Jokic's salary, but after a brief adaptation period with the Nuggets, he quickly hits his stride, taking on a new role, fulfilling his mission, and frequently creating surprises! Especially when Westbrook starts, he remains the formidable "Westbrick" that troubles opponents! On November 5th against the Raptors, Westbrook started and contributed 21 points + 6 rebounds + 6 assists, surpassing Miller to rank 26th in history in scoring and surpassing Thomas to rank 17th in steals; on November 7th against the Thunder, Westbrook scored 29 points + 6 rebounds + 6 assists, setting a new personal season-high in scoring; on November 20th against the Grizzlies, Westbrook easily scored 12 points + 10 rebounds + 14 assists, marking his first season with the Nuggets and his 200th career triple-double, becoming the first player in NBA history to unlock the 200-triple-double milestone; on December 31st against the Jazz and January 2nd against the Hawks, Westbrook exploded for a combined 32 points and 23 assists with just 2 turnovers!
So far this season, Westbrook has played in every game, averaging 12.2 points + 4.5 rebounds + 6.6 assists + 1.7 steals + 1.1 three-pointers, proving himself a qualified super sixth man! But this is not the full extent of Westbrook's abilities! According to NBA official statistics, when Westbrook starts this season, he averages a comprehensive stat line of 13.7 points + 5.9 rebounds + 8.6 assists + 2.3 steals, with a shooting percentage as high as 56.2%. Westbrook's increased stats when starting do not make him a stat-padder; on the contrary, he and Jokic have shown a late-blooming chemistry, fitting perfectly together! Statistics show that when Westbrook starts, the Nuggets have a record of 9 wins and 2 losses; in contrast, when he comes off the bench, the Nuggets' record is only 10 wins and 11 losses!
This is the new-season Westbrook, defying fate,不服输，reversing destiny, rejuvenating, and it's too good! Former Nuggets coach George Karl pointed out incisively: the Nuggets may need Westbrook to continue starting in the remaining games! I don't know if Malone will do this, but one thing is certain: MVPs are not overrated, Westbrook still has a lot of gas left in the tank, and his playmaking, defense, and fighting spirit are what the Nuggets need! Looking forward to Westbrook continuing his efforts, both Jokic's pursuit of the MVP and the championship require him! What do you think about this, basketball fans? Leave your comments and let's discuss it.