Nikola Jokic Exhibits Like to Russell Westbrook After Return Sport in Denver – Sports activities Illustrated

The Denver Nuggets hosted the Sacramento Kings on Monday night time, as a number of gamers took on their former crew for the primary time since a bunch of change-ups over the offseason. Most notably, Kings level guard Russell Westbrook made his first return to Denver since leaving the Nuggets over the summer time, and he definitely made an announcement.
In a shedding effort, Westbrook had his finest recreation of the season, dropping 26 factors, 12 rebounds, six assists, and two steals on 10-17 capturing from the sector and 3-6 from three-point vary. After the sport, Westbrook made it clear that it was the Nuggets that prompted their split-up within the offseason, and he definitely used Monday night time to point out them what they’re lacking.
After seeing Westbrook have an amazing efficiency towards his former crew, Nuggets famous person heart Nikola Jokic had excessive reward for his current teammate.
"Sure, I imply, it's at all times good to see Russ, particularly as a result of he was our teammate final 12 months. Russ might be — like for one 12 months I feel — me and him had a very good chemistry for such a brief time frame. , he's an amazing participant. He's a Corridor of Famer, and it's at all times good to see him on the ground," Jokic said in his postgame press convention.
Like Jokic mentioned, he and Westbrook surprisingly created a really impactful tandem. As two of the best playmakers within the fashionable NBA, Jokic and Westbrook performed off one another at a excessive stage whereas the previous MVP level guard was in Denver.
Via one season as a Nugget, Westbrook averaged 13.3 factors, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per recreation. Regardless of having some inconsistencies, Westbrook got here up big within the playoffs for the Nuggets, particularly of their first-round sequence win towards the LA Clippers.
Many followers throughout the league thought Westbrook revived his profession in a way whereas with the Nuggets, however regardless, the 2 sides determined to half methods this offseason, and he discovered a brand new house in Sacramento.
Westbrook is now making a big impact with the Kings, and whereas many Nuggets followers probably want the energetic veteran was nonetheless in Denver, he nonetheless has loads of respect from his former teammates.
Logan Struck is a author overlaying the NBA for Sports activities Illustrated's On SI since 2023
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