Thomas Bryant and Russell Westbrook
On one hand, Russell Westbrook has revived his lost reputation in the league with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2022-23 season, and young star Thomas Bryant has emerged as a powerhouse in the paint in Anthony Davis’ absence. This has only made fans wonder about the inspiration and guidance this former Wizard is under, as he continues to shine for the Purple and Gold.
Thomas was drafted with the 42nd pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Lakers but was cut just after one season. This is when Bryant played for the Washington Wizards, where he began to learn things from the former MVP, Russell Westbrook. The mentorship of a veteran star, who has been the face of the league when one talks about Triple-Doubles was key in making Thomas understand the game a lot better.
“What he used to tell me was to always stay prepared and always train like it was for a game,” Bryant said as per Dan Woike of the LA Times. “One thing I took from him was the amount of preparation he did, whether it was before practice, after practice, before games or after games. He always took great…great care of his body. And that’s what I always got from him too. The recovery needs to be. . .as much as you do out there on the court, you need to recover as much as you can as well.”
While Bryant is averaging 13 points per game, Westbrook has single-handedly led the Lakers on occasions where Lebron James requires rest or time off.
Not only has Bryant been a force to reckon with on the scoring end, but has significantly contributed on the defensive end as well. This is just why Westbrook is happy to see the youngster evolve as a much better and more composed player.
“I love it. I just love seeing him compete,” Westbrook said. “He’s a passionate kid and he wants to compete at the highest level. And I want to make the game easy for him so he can show his worth and show what he’s made of. And that’s part of my job.”
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