In just his first game as a Wizard, Russell Westbrook had a pretty impressive showing, dropping 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 15 assists. Still, in spite of the individual performance, the Wizards were unable to pull away with the victory, much to the disappointment of Westbrook, who admitted he felt disappointed after it was all over.
Russell Westbrook after having a triple-double in the Wizards' season-opening loss: "Not good enough. Honestly, I'm disappointed in myself… I don't like moral victories."
— Chase Hughes (@chasedcsports) December 24, 2020
Westbrook has often been labeled a “stat padder” over his 12-year career. In this case, it’s clear his eyes are set on the wins.
The star guard is coming off a rather forgettable season with the Rockets, which ended poorly when they got bounced early in the Western Conference playoffs. Amid controversy and a “toxic” culture, Russ demanded a trade and was sent to the Wizards in one of the biggest moves of the offseason.
Now, in Washington, Westbrook is embracing his new start. As he establishes a new culture (one that emphasizes winning), the hope is that both he and the Wizards will be able to find some success this season in the East. So far, at least, Wizards fans certainly have a lot to look forward to.
Last season, Westbrook averaged 23.2 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game on 43.7% shooting.
