In the NBA, where stars shine brightly, some are born to be the main characters, like our "chosen one" LeBron James, who remains firmly seated on the throne of "greatness" despite narrowly missing out on championships multiple times.
But today, we're talking about someone who isn't a natural-born protagonist with a halo, but rather a "motivational brother" who has gone through many ups and downs and ultimately achieved a phoenix-like rebirth—Westbrook!
Back in the day, Westbrook, along with Durant and Harden, were known as the "three young talents" of the Thunder, making it all the way to the finals together. Although they didn't end up lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy, their youthful storm shook the league. Westbrook, in particular, gained a large fan base with his "triple-double miracle." Even without a championship title, Westbrook's status among fans remained solid, and his induction into the Hall of Fame seemed just a matter of time.
Who would have thought that this former "son of Thunder" would go through so many twists and turns? After leaving the Thunder, Westbrook became a wandering wanderer, moving from Houston to Washington, then to the Lakers and Clippers, gradually transitioning from a team core to a supporting role.
During his time with the Lakers, Westbrook even accepted a bench role, but despite this, he couldn't escape the fate of being traded, eventually continuing his dream with a minimum contract.
However, Westbrook is a person with an indomitable spirit. This offseason, he joined the Nuggets, signing a two-year, $6.8 million contract—a golden opportunity to save his career!
At the start of the new season, Westbrook's annual salary was only $3.3 million, but that didn't stop him from shining. In the Nuggets, Westbrook found his rhythm, playing better and better.
When he started, it was as if he had divine assistance, scoring, stealing, and assisting with ease. For example, on November 5 against the Raptors, Westbrook scored more than Miller and stole more than Thomas, an explosive performance!
And Westbrook wasn't a one-hit wonder; he consistently shone in every game. On November 7 against his old team, the Thunder, Westbrook set a new season-high in scoring, thrilling the fans. Then on November 20 against the Grizzlies, Westbrook achieved his 200th career triple-double, embodying a "triple-double machine"!
This doesn't end here. From December 31 to January 2, Westbrook was like a god descending from the heavens. He scored 32 points and made 23 assists with only 2 turnovers, an incredible efficiency! Fans jokingly said, "Westbrook has turned the Nuggets into an 'assist army'!"
So far this season, Westbrook has played in every game, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 three-pointers, making him a qualified "super sixth man." When he starts, he averages an impressive 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 8.6 assists, and 2.3 steals, with a shooting percentage of 56.2%, truly an "efficiency king"!
Moreover, the Nuggets have a record of 9 wins and 2 losses when Westbrook starts, compared to 10 wins and 11 losses when he comes off the bench. This clearly shows the importance of Westbrook to the team. Even George Karl, the former head coach of the Nuggets, couldn't help but say, "I think the Nuggets might need to continue starting Westbrook for the rest of the games." This comment received widespread approval from fans, who declared, "Westbrook starts, Nuggets invincible"!
Westbrook's performance with the Nuggets has earned widespread acclaim. Fans express, "Westbrook's performance is like a 'pillar of stability'! With him, the Nuggets are stable!" Everyone is looking forward to Westbrook maintaining this state to help Jokic win the MVP and the championship.
Jokic, after all, is the "star player" of the Nuggets, and his performance directly determines the team's ceiling. Now with Westbrook as a capable assistant, Jokic is like a tiger with wings! Fans jokingly say, "The combination of Westbrook and Jokic is simply an 'invincible duo'! If they can lead the Nuggets to the championship, I'll blow them up with praise!"
Therefore, Westbrook is a prime example of someone who becomes stronger after each setback. He proves with his actions: as long as you have a dream in your heart, you will never be defeated! Let's look forward to Westbrook continuing to shine with the Nuggets! Go, Westbrook! You're the best!