The Denver Nuggets opened preseason with a 103-107 loss to the Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi, but there were plenty of great moments for the 2023 NBA Champions int he loss. One of the biggest takeaways was Russell Westbrook‘s seamless fit into the squad.
Much has been made about Brodie joining the franchise to be a bench guard, but the former MVP is looking forward to making the game easier for Nikola Jokic, as he does for all of his other teammates.
“I am grateful. It’s gonna be a great year just figuring out ways to make the game easier for him because he does it for everybody else. I enjoy seeing other people do well, so I’ll continue to watch him and play well. My job is to make it easier for him as well.”
Westbrook put up 12 points, four rebounds, and eight assists, making three threes in a solid outing. He was a +4 in the loss, with the result being dictated by the Celtics reserves outplaying the Nuggets reserves.
Russell Westbrook has been criticized heavily over recent seasons for failing to fit into teams or adjust to a reduced role, but he’s rarely been referred to as a bad teammate. In fact, Westbrook has directly contributed to his teammates being named All-Star for the last 8 seasons.
Westbrook’s teammates such as Paul George (OKC Thunder), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), LeBron James (LA Lakers), and Kawhi Leonard (LA Clippers) have all made it to All-Star games while having Westbrook as a teammate. That streak is likely going to continue with Nikola Jokic on the Nuggets this season.
Hopefully, Westbrook can raise the floor of the bench unit and be a mentor to the young players in the reserves as well as help Jamal Murray potentially earn his first All-Star appearance as well. Westbrook isn’t a superstar point guard anymore, but it seems he’s finally accepted the backup role he has to fulfil to maximize his team’s success.
Playing more minutes alongside the young bench on the Nuggets might be the best way forward for Westbrook to maximize his impact on the squad, but minutes alongside Jokic could help both players out over the course of a grueling 82-game season.
Read more from my coverage for Fadeaway World at the 2024 NBA Abu Dhabi Games – Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets.
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