Russell Westbrook is a guy who will consistently light up the stat-sheet. His 24 point, 8 rebound, 7 assist season average only proves that point. But, for Russ, his game goes further than the numbers tell.
He embodies a “killer” mentality on the court, a characteristic that has drawn him both praise and criticism over the years.
Whatever your opinion on it, Russ doesn’t seem to have plans to change it. In fact, in a recent locker-room interview, he shared his intentions to take advantage of smaller matchups.
Jokes aside, Westbrook isn’t one to shy away from seizing the opportunity.
In the aftermath of his trade to Houston this summer, many thought Russ would have to change his ways to make things work with Harden. Two ball-dominant stars, theoretically, could never work, right?
While the Rockets still have a ways to go before anyone considers them true contenders, it’s hard to say the pairing between Harden and Westbrook has been a failure. They’re 23-11, 4th in the West, and winners of 7 of their last 10.
It has, by no means, been perfect, but the stars have made things work. Of course, part of it is the very thing that supposedly makes Westbrook so hard to play with in the first place: his drive.
He’s driven to win, to dominate, no matter the cost.
