Russell Westbrook is in pole position to become the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year in 2023
Russell Westbrook
© Bill Streicher - USA TODAY Sports
Russell Westbrook might have had a slow and agonizing start to the campaign for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the steamroller is quickly picking up pace and getting back to being Russ, whom everyone had seen muscle his way past players and scoring triple-doubles as if it was nothing.
Russ possesses brute athleticism, pace, and strength on the court. He instills panic mode inside the heads of the guards defending him when Mr. Beastbrook charges inside the paint and takes the ball to the rim. On occasions, Russell has been unguardable by even some of the best defenses in the league.
Recommended Articles
Adding one more honor to his name.
Now, since he is returning to the rhythm and dancing to the tunes of his earlier self, Westbrook has a chance of clinching the NBA Sixth man of the year title in 2023.
Darvin Ham and the Lakers management deployed a plan to start using Russ from the bench rather than put him in the starting lineup, and despite some early hiccups, it looks like their decision is paying off in gold.
Westbrook had a menial average of 10.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 6.7 rebounds per game in the three games as a starter, whereas these stats highly oscillated towards a growth trajectory when he started coming off the bench as an impact player. He is shooting 42.3% from the field and is averaging 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.8 assists in his last 20 games when he came off the bench.
Brodie can be the key to the Lakers' lock hold.
Consistency is etching towards the Lakers slowly but steadily, and Russ leading their unit from the bench can be the big move that is providing the Lakers with that extra depth from the bench. He has been dominant inside the paint and from beyond the arc, and the franchise would hope Russ keeps doing that to help Los Angeles march toward a playoff berth this season.
