Westbrook’s Work Ethic Fueled Braun’s Rise

Braun Credits Westbrook’s Relentless Drive for Fueling His Own Game

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun has revealed the profound and unexpectedly positive impact veteran Russell Westbrook had on his burgeoning NBA career. While many might associate playing with Westbrook with the intense pressure of his triple-double chasing days, Braun highlighted a different, yet equally potent, influence: Westbrook’s unwavering work ethic.

Speaking about his time alongside the former MVP, Braun explained how Westbrook’s dedication served as a constant motivator during his own developmental stages with the Nuggets. “Like a relentless work ethic. Like that’s probably the biggest thing I think for me with Russ early on,” Braun stated. “Obviously, there’s pressure playing with Russ. Same pressure to playing with…”

Braun, who grew up watching Westbrook dominate in Oklahoma City, found himself learning from the future Hall of Famer up close. This proximity to Westbrook’s daily grind proved to be a pivotal learning experience.

The Sixth Man Shadow: A Constant Push

The Nuggets’ guard elaborated on a specific dynamic that pushed him to elevate his performance every single night. When Westbrook was coming off the bench as a sixth man, Braun, then a starter, understood the stakes involved. “I tell people my family this too and I think I’ve told Russ this, but like playing with Russ, especially when I was starting and Russ was sixman. Like I knew every single day, every single game if I didn’t bring it, there’s a chance, you know, Coach Mo would play Russ, you know, and Russ would close the game. And I knew that,” Braun explained.

This looming possibility of Westbrook taking his place in crucial moments of the game served as a powerful incentive for Braun. The fear of losing his starting role, coupled with the knowledge of Westbrook’s capability to deliver a triple-double on any given night, kept Braun on his toes.

The Triple-Double Threat

“And so, like that that really like pushed me every night. And like I said, I didn’t want to miss games because if you miss a game and Russ slides in, there’s a really good chance he has a triple double and you don’t get your spot back,” Braun admitted. “So, I’m out there like, I need to play tonight, you know?”

This competitive fire, ignited by Westbrook’s presence, was instrumental in Braun’s development. He acknowledged that having Westbrook in his corner, even as a competitor for minutes, was a net positive for his own game.

Indirect Impact on Career

Braun went on to express his gratitude for Westbrook’s indirect influence, suggesting that Westbrook may not even fully grasp the extent of his impact. “And so, I I definitely thank Russ for even just having Russ behind you, you know, it’s pushing you. You got to be your best because, you know, no matter what, every single night Russ is going to be no matter what,” Braun said. “And that’s what I love about Russ.”

He concluded by emphasizing Westbrook’s significant, albeit indirect, contribution to his career trajectory. “So, he he obviously is another, you know, big part of my career in indirectly. I I don’t even know if he knows that, but um indirectly Russ Russ helped me out a lot last year.”

Westbrook’s relentless approach and his proven ability to impact games significantly, even as a reserve, provided Braun with a unique and high-stakes learning environment. This dynamic undoubtedly played a role in Braun’s growth and his ability to establish himself as a valuable contributor for the Nuggets.

Source: Christian Braun on how much RUSSELL WESTBROOK impacted his game in a POSITIVE WAY #nuggets (YouTube)