Detroit Pistons: 3 things Jaden Ivey can learn from Russell Westbrook
Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons has often been compared to future Hall-of-Famer Russell Westbrook and it makes sense.
Both players have elite speed and athleticism, and when you watch Jaden Ivey go end-to-end with the ball and finish acrobatically at the rim, it does remind you of a young Westbrook.
Recently, the two were working out together and some Pistons’ fans lost their minds when they saw pictures circulating of Ivey and Westbrook chatting on the court:
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1561891816118620163
To me, Westbrook is one of the best people to give young Jaden Ivey advice, as their games are similar (though there are some big differences) and there is plenty that Ivey could learn from the veteran. This is a former MVP and a 9-time All-NBA player, so Ivey is smart to pick his brain.
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Westbrook has been maligned in recent years, mostly for his shot selection, but he is one of the best point guards of all time, a unique player who Ivey can learn from in many ways.
Detroit Pistons: What Jaden Ivey can learn from Russell Westbrook
#1: Relentless motor
To me, the thing that sets Russell Westbrook apart from other guards is his absolutely insane and relentless motor on both ends of the floor.
Westbrook doesn’t have lower gears and is constantly pursuing the ball and the rim with relentless energy that is hard for opponents to handle, and this was especially true during his early days in the NBA.
You won’t find a guy who hustles harder or who is more competitive than Westbrook, which is something that has always given him an advantage considering he is more athletic than just about everyone on the floor.
This is part of why he has averaged 6.9 free throw attempts per game for his carer, something Ivey hopes to do for the Pistons.
Of course, this sometimes gets him in to trouble, but you can’t question Westbrook’s energy and passion. The best thing about these qualities is that anyone can have them, and regardless of what you think of Westbrook, he cares more than anyone and never takes a play off.