The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a three-game winning streak, and Russell Westbrook is a major reason why.
The veteran guard has flourished in his bench role this season, and he’s starting to separate himself as the favorite for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Westbrook has been playing well for almost an entire month now.
But over his last four games specifically, he’s taken one element of his game to another level: his playmaking.
The 34-year-old is working on a really impressive streak, as he has registered 10 assists or more in four consecutive games.
Russell Westbrook has had double-digit assists in his last 4 games! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lxe24u5CWZ
— Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) November 21, 2022
Here’s a look at his last four performances:
- vs. Sacramento Kings: 21 points, 11 assists, four rebounds
- vs. Brooklyn Nets: 14 points, 12 assists, six rebounds
- vs. Detroit Pistons: 10 points, 12 assists, five rebounds
- vs. San Antonio Spurs: 10 points 10 assists, four rebounds
Westbrook has tallied double-doubles in four straight games.
During this stretch, he hasn’t had the easiest time scoring the ball — he’s made just 33.3 percent of his shots from the field over the four-game span — but he has still found a way to make a positive impact by creating for his teammates.
That’s a big deal, as his playmaking has been a major key during L.A.’s winning streak.
New Life
It’s no secret that Westbrook struggled to fit in as a starter last season, and the same was true over the first few games of this season.
However, since moving to the bench, the nine-time All-Star has looked like a brand new player.
In his new role, he’s averaging 16.8 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field and an impressive 39.6 percent from beyond the arc.
He has become one of the Lakers’ most valuable players this season, and they’re going to need him to keep it up if they want any chance at reaching the postseason.
