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 featuring 209 triple-doubles. Westbrook is best remembered for his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets, but also played for several other teams, including the Washington Wizards during the 2020-21 season. That year, he posted career highs in rebounds (11.5) and assists (11.7), 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 54 games, playing a secondary role alongside Westbrook and Bradley Beal. After Westbrook was traded to the Lakers, Avdija spoke about their special relationship, saying Westbrook made him mentally tougher and a more resilient player. "He pushed me hard on the court, sometimes yelling, but it made me stronger," 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, which surged to 19.4 drives per game this season, leading the NBA and reflecting significant physical and mental growth. Westbrook averaged 17.8 drives per game during his single season with Washington.

Westbrook remains highly respected in the NBA community, and his bond with Avdija endures. In a 2024-25 interview, Westbrook called Avdija "like a brother" and expressed pride in his development. Together, they played 48 games, with the Wizards winning 21 during Avdija’s rookie year. They faced each other 11 times afterward.

Westbrook concluded his career averaging 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 8 assists per game, holding the all-time record for triple-doubles until Nikola Jokic is expected to surpass him early next season.