Entering Monday, 33-year old Russell Westbrook — perhaps the most athletic point guard ever to play basketball — had converted under 60 percent of his dunk attempts since joining the Los Angeles Lakers. According to The Basketball Index, he was the most effective player in basketball at creating shot opportunities around the cup, but the least effective at finishing.
Tell that to Rudy Gobert.
The All-Star Utah Jazz center and three-time Defensive Player of the Year found himself on the wrong end of a (frankly overdue) turn-back-the-clock moment from Westbrook, who seemed to let a half-season of frustration out in one viral and ferocious drive to the basket.
With two minutes remaining in the second quarter, Westbrook used a slip-screen from LeBron James and attacked the paint with conviction. He took a couple of dribbles, loaded up, and basketball-murdered the 7'1 Frenchman.
as as objective journalist, i stood up and yelled on this onepic.twitter.com/xnYlyqsSce https://t.co/rIYXiLYehx
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) January 18, 2022
The poster (NFT?) sent Crypto.com Arena into a frenzy and helped spark the Lakers to a rare and refreshing victory over quality competition.
Afterward, Westbrook was asked about what was his premier highlight in a Lakers uniform — and one of the best dunks of the 2021-22 NBA season.
“I’m just thankful and blessed to be able to go out and compete,” he said. “As the season prolongs, plays like that my legs and stuff will be better for me and just finding a better rhythm. It happened to be [Rudy] Gobert tonight, but that could be anybody any other night … It’s year 14 for me – people just don’t want me coming off the paint and taking off and seeing if I still have my legs. I know what I’m capable of and know what I’m capable of doing on the floor. When the moment presents itself and being able to finish strong at the basket is still something I can do.”
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1zIWCJzCaQN8MNkj6CE5Ss?si=acd6388097964ba3
LeBron praised Russ for his vintage aggression — something the Lakers have wanted their highest-paid player to bring every night (while playing responsibly).
“Just an explosive play. It reminded me of the play he had last year against (Bismack Biyombo) in Washington,” LeBron recalled. “He wasn't going in for a layup or going in for a floater or going in for anything else besides attacking the shot blocker. That was electrifying, it was big-time. I've seen the replay over and over, it was a phenomenal play.”
Russ finished with 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting, but that hammer on Gobert was worth far more than two points.
“You have to go smart or go strong against Rudy,” Frank Vogel said. “If you take anything weak to the basket, he’s going to swat it away, so you have to attack the basket with aggression … Russ made a hell of a play … one hell of a finish.”
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