Russell Westbrook Mentors Israeli NBA Rookie Deni Avdija, Shares Close Bond

Russell Westbrook, the former NBA MVP and one of the greatest point guards of the 21st century, has officially retired from professional basketball after an illustrious career highlighted by 209 triple-doubles. Westbrook is best remembered for his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, but he also played for several other teams, including the Washington Wizards during the 2020-21 season. That year, he averaged career-highs of 11.5 rebounds and 11.7 assists per game, marking his fourth and final season averaging a triple-double.

During his stint with the Wizards, Westbrook served as a mentor to Israeli rookie Deni Avdija in Avdija’s first NBA season. Avdija started 32 of the 54 games he played, acting as a key secondary player alongside Westbrook and Bradley Beal. After Westbrook was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Avdija spoke about their special relationship, saying Westbrook made him mentally tougher and more resilient. "He demanded a lot on the court, sometimes yelling at me, but he helped me improve my approach to the NBA," Avdija said.

Both players share a similar aggressive playing style focused on driving to the basket. In his rookie season, Avdija averaged 1.6 drives per game, while this season he led the NBA with 19.4 drives per game, showing significant physical and mental growth. Westbrook averaged 17.8 drives per game during his single season with Washington.

Westbrook remains highly respected within the NBA community, and his bond with Avdija continues. In an exclusive 2024-25 interview, Westbrook called Avdija "like a brother" and expressed pride in his progress. Together, they played 48 games with the Wizards, winning 21, and faced each other 11 times afterward. Westbrook retired with career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. Although he holds the all-time record for triple-doubles, Nikola Jokic is expected to surpass him early in the next season.