Nuggets’ Malone Calls Russell Westbrook ‘Rockstar’ on Defense: ‘He Cares, Man’ | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone heaped reward on veteran guard Russell Westbrook following Wednesday’s 124-122 house win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

In accordance with Bennett Durando of the Denver Put up, Malone was particularly impressed with Westbrook’s defensive effort, saying:

“I believe defensively he is been a rockstar. And what I like about Russell Westbrook: 17-year vet, leopards do not change their spots, however he’s making an attempt so laborious to be disciplined. He is making an attempt to do the issues we’re asking him to do, and I recognize that a lot. As a result of a whole lot of instances at 17 years in, you might be who you might be. However he cares, man. He’s so invested on this crew and what he is bringing to this crew, and he is so laborious on himself. I can coach a man like Russell Westbrook any day.”

The Nuggets had been with out guard Jamal Murray and ahead Aaron Gordon on Wednesday resulting from harm, which pushed a number of gamers into larger roles, together with Westbrook.

Beginning solely his third recreation of the season, Westbrook led Denver with 29 factors on 10-of-15 capturing to go together with six assists, six rebounds and one steal.

The Thunder had been undefeated at 7-0 getting into Wednesday’s contest, they usually had been basically totally wholesome with stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams taking part in a full allotment of minutes.

Denver solely used an eight-man rotation throughout the recreation and all 5 starters performed at the very least 32 minutes, nevertheless it managed to beat the drawback and safe its largest win of the 12 months to date.

Westbrook, who will flip 36 subsequent week, is within the midst of his seventeenth NBA season general and his first with the Nuggets.

He was as soon as a celebrity with the Thunder, successful two scoring titles and an NBA MVP Award, however in more moderen years, Westbrook has taken on a lesser position, primarily as a bench participant.

After ending a stable seventh within the Sixth Man of the 12 months voting final season with the Los Angeles Clippers, the Nuggets introduced him in with designs on him filling an analogous position.

Though Westbrook received off to a sluggish begin this season, he has scored 20 or extra factors in every of the previous two video games and three of the previous 5. He has additionally mad 60 % of his pictures or extra in every of the previous two video games after capturing a horrendous 23.2 % over his first six outings.

Along with his offensive enchancment, Westbrook has been dedicated defensively as properly, averaging 1.8 steals per recreation, which is his greatest manufacturing in that class since his remaining season in OKC in 2018-19.

Westbrook will nearly actually fade again right into a bench position as soon as Murray returns to motion, however he’s going to see vital minutes for the remainder of the season regardless, and he might have an enormous hand in whether or not the Nuggets win their second championship in three seasons.