Russell Westbrook’s performance in Denver Nuggets debut goes viral

Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are in Abu Dhabi for two preseason games against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. The last two NBA champions came together to help grow the league outside the United States.

Friday’s game marked Russell Westbrook’s debut in a Nuggets jersey. The nine-time NBA All-Star signed with the Nuggets in free agency this offseason.

Westbrook played 18 minutes in his Nuggets debut, scoring 12 points, eight assists and four rebounds. The 2017 MVP made three of his six three-point attempts, and his overall performance went viral on social media, with so many fans tuning in for this first NBA game of the year.

The NBA posted Westbrook’s first basket in a Nuggets uniform and the post was viewed more than 1.6 million times on Instagram.

The NBA shared an additional slow-mo look at Westbrook’s first basket and received another 85,000 views on the post in less than 30 minutes.

Even Westbrook’s pregame routine went viral on Instagram. Westbrook ends his routine with his usual corner three behind the basket and then sprints to the locker room.

This video on Instagram has over 900,000 views.

With eight assists in just 18 minutes, Westbrook showed off his playmaking skills that remain elite.

One of Westbrook’s assists came on a pass from his old friend DeAndre Jordan.

This message from the NBA was viewed more than 57,000 times on X.

The Nuggets official team account also shared several Westbrook highlights, including an assist given to junior guard Julian Strawther.

Westbrook wants to bring a lot of what they missed to Denver.

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