Thursday’s season opener for the Denver Nuggets was a disappointing one, as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 112-97. While Russell Westbrook made his debut for the Nuggets, it was not the start he had hoped for, as he shot just 2-10 from the field and scored six points.
Despite the poor shooting night, Westbrook showed flashes of brilliance, grabbing five rebounds and handing out five assists in just 21 minutes of action. The crowd was left eager to see what the future holds for the veteran point guard.
The Nuggets trailed for most of the game, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Thunder leading all scorers with 28 points. Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, put up a respectable 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in his own right, notching his first triple-double of the season.
Westbrook’s stock has taken a hit, to say the least, following his underwhelming debut. Fans are now left wondering if the 16-year veteran is a key addition to the Nuggets’ roster. He will need to bounce back quickly, as Saturday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers provides an opportunity to redeem himself and the team.
When asked about his new teammate Nikola Jokic, Westbrook praised the Serb’s selfless play, saying, “Just the unselfishness. I think that’s a trait that I think a lot of people may know, but being able to see it daily, it’s great just for the best player in the world to be like that. Everybody else don’t have no choice but to get in line.”
As the season moves on, it will be interesting to see how Westbrook and Jokic mesh together. The two are already drawing comparisons, with Jokic closing in on Westbrook’s record of 181 triple-doubles. The possibility of seeing two of the league’s top playmakers on the same team is an exciting one, even if it does take some getting used to.
