Despite attaining a triple-double Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings head coach Doug Christie said that Russell Westbrook will return to the bench once the Kings are completely healthy. There is no plan to move Westbrook to the starting lineup at any position.
Russell Westbrook was impressive Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors as he registered his 204th triple-double of his career. He played 35 minutes, scored 23 points, had 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Despite the fine outing, once Zach LaVine returns from injury, which should be any day, Westbrook will head back to the bench and work his way into head coach Doug Christie's rotation. Christie envisions playing him all over the floor.
Westbrook, who is a point guard by nature, started at power forward Wednesday and was brilliant. It was, however, not enough for Christie to find a spot in the starting rotation for him once the team is fully-healthy.
"Once players comeback, I think, we brought Russ in to be the backup point guard, but he has so many gifts. It is like, he played the 4," Christie said late Wednesday night. "He is going to play all over the floor because of his physicality, his downhill nature. He rebounds the basketball at a high level.
"But, I think when we are fully healthy he even makes us better. Russell Westbrook playing against second unit players, is a cheat code," Christie said. He is going to find his way into closing games to every aspect to winning basketball games for us, because he is a winning basketball player."
Christie gave Westbrook his proper due and his bouquet of flowers, but he also relegated the fact Westbrook is no youngster and will continue to work in the rotation.
"Russ is a Hall of Famer, incredible talent, but the talent and the desire that he plays with is crazy," Christie said. "That's really what the game is about. You play a kid's game with that type of effort. It was beautiful to watch."
Westbrook enters year 18 and still plays the game at a high level, according to Christie.
"You see media and all these different things about Russ, for me none of that is true. People say a lot of different things. He is truly passionate," Christie said. "Basketball is a game of mistakes we all make them. Give me a guy who leans on putting his foot on the gas. He gives you everything that he has and that is what you want."