For 11 seasons, Russell Westbrook served as a foundational piece of the OKC Thunder, and by the time his tenure came to an end during the summer of 2019, he had unequivocally become the most beloved basketball player in Sooner State history.
From his league-leading scoring feats to his do-it-all, legendary triple-double stat lines, the point guard cemented a legacy as arguably the greatest to ever don the blue, orange, and yellow threads.
However, even when taking into account his treasure trove of accolades that include eight All-Star and All-NBA nods, two scoring titles, and a league MVP, to Thunder fans, perhaps the most cherished in-game attribute Westbrook possessed throughout his stay was his high-end energy and unrivaled hustle on the hardwood.
Now, though such a trait may have been somewhat dormant over these past few years following his departure from Oklahoma City, Tuesday night, the future Hall of Famer seemed to have turned back the clock in this department while playing a key role in the Denver Nuggets' crucial Game 5 win over the LA Clippers.
Nuggets benefit from Russell Westbrook's energy as Thunder once did
After missing the club's previous game due to left foot inflammation, Westbrook decided to give it a go out in the Mile High City with the series tied at 2-2 apiece.
Right from the jump, the veteran made sure his presence was felt, making the most of his minutes by being in full-on attack mode and logging 16 points in the first half alone while playing just 12 minutes.
He would finish the night off with 21 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field and 50.0 percent shooting from distance, while Denver would wrap up with a 131-115, wire-to-wire victory and claim a 3-2 lead in this quarterfinal series.
Though Westbrook may not have been the splashiest of contributors from the contest, as his own teammate Jamal Murray finished off with a whopping 43 points while Nikola Jokic recorded yet another triple-double, his on-court energy was truly palpable and universally praised by both his teammates and opponents.
Even Clippers star Kawhi Leonard couldn't help but shout out the Brodie for his efforts, saying he "came in and played great" during his post-game media session, while Jokic noted that his energy and overall efforts were "really, really impactful."
When discussing this aspect of his game with reporters following Denver's Game 5 win, Westbrook noted that the type of energy he provides "is a huge part of the game that the average eye may not see or the box score doesn't show."
Though this may be true in general, throughout his 11-year stint out in Oklahoma City, Thunder fans saw and, frankly, adored these types of efforts every night he stepped foot on the floor.
Now, under the bright lights of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, it seems that his Nuggets teammates are starting to develop a similar sense of appreciation.