In today's game where the Nuggets defeated the Nets, Westbrook replaced the injured Gordon and continued to start. In this match, Jokic also made a comeback after missing two games. It was expected that with Jokic's return, Westbrook's stats would decline, but surprisingly, Westbrook once again achieved a triple-double, shooting 8 for 17 from the field, 2 for 5 from three-point range, scoring 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, marking his 202nd career triple-double. At the same time, his teammate Jokic also recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, the second time this season, making it even more impressive that both Westbrook and Jokic achieved triple-doubles simultaneously.
Westbrook played so well that the Nuggets' home crowd was thrilled. During the post-game sideline interview, the reporter immediately approached Westbrook. Before the reporter could start speaking, the entire crowd began chanting "MVP" together. The reporter gestured for applause and then requested silence, but it was impossible to quiet down. After about 30 seconds, the reporter asked, "Congratulations, winner, how do you feel about the atmosphere here?" Westbrook replied, "It's amazing, it's a blessing, thank you to all the fans, you give me endless energy." Then the reporter held the microphone towards the audience and asked, "How do you feel about having Westbrook, such a legend on your team?" The crowd erupted again, with chants of "MVP" echoing throughout.
The excitement didn't stop there. The reporter continued to ask Westbrook, "You've achieved your 202nd career triple-double today, what does this mean to you?" Westbrook responded, "It's just a byproduct of winning; data only has meaning when we win. So I'm very grateful, thank you to Coach Malone for giving me the freedom to play, he trusts me unconditionally, and my teammates don't show a sour face when I miss a shot; they always encourage me. That's why I pour out my energy and contribute as a veteran should."
Westbrook's heartfelt thanks to Malone were touching and emotional, eliciting thunderous applause at the scene. Indeed, in the previous game, Westbrook missed all four shots in consecutive turns, but Malone did not call a timeout to replace him; instead, he continued to encourage him, saying, "Russ, keep attacking, don't stop attacking, you can do it." This scenario is unimaginable in teams like the Clippers or Lakers. It's not that coaches Lue and Ham are not good, but rather, Malone truly knows how to inspire players' potential and gives them ample freedom.
Regarding Westbrook's emotional gratitude, Malone also responded during the post-game press conference, saying, "It's not easy to receive affirmation from a Hall of Fame player. The 36-year-old Westbrook is still very coachable; he makes the game easier and allows young players to feel his commitment, which has a positive impact on the team. This is not something to be taken for granted; we all know the heights he has reached and what he is still capable of achieving." Malone also revealed that after the game today, Westbrook enjoyed leadership treatment in the locker room. Following Malone's brief summary, the entire team, including Jokic, surrounded Westbrook, repeatedly chanting his nickname "Brodie," to which Westbrook responded with a hoarse voice, shouting, "Let's go! Let's go!" The scene was truly moving.
