Russell Westbrook's impact on the Nuggets goes beyond 22 points against the Nets

BROOKLYN, NY – While most of the Nuggets slept or otherwise laid low during a long flight to Toronto last weekend, Russell Westbrook strolled to the back of the team plane and struck up a conversation with head coach Michael Malone.

There was talk of basketball, Denver's revamped second unit and the rocky start to the season. But that was beside the point for Westbrook in this situation. He had been trying to get in touch with his new teammates throughout training camp to get to know their backgrounds. Now he had the opportunity to learn more about his coach.

“I do that all the time, man; it’s just not seen by (the public),” Westbrook said. “…I like learning about people, about their family, his children. Basketball is whatever.”

He and Malone even ended up discussing the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a topic Westbrook learned about during his 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, which motivated him to make a History Channel documentary called “Tulsa “Burning” to produce.

“I mean, what an interesting person Russell Westbrook is,” Malone marveled.

Westbrook's performance on the court was secondary to the intangible impression he made before Tuesday in Denver, when his game-changing performance roiled a team in Brooklyn. The Nuggets rallied from a 17-point deficit to force overtime for the second time in as many nights – and in as many cities. In a 144-139 win, the backup point guard collected 22 points and five assists during regulation time. Then he didn't even have to play in overtime to ensure his relentless presence at Barclays Center was still inescapable.

With 17 seconds left and the game almost over, Nets veteran Dennis Schroder committed an offensive foul in the corner directly in front of the visiting bench. Westbrook marched out to the scene, pointed to the other side of the room and gleefully imitated the foul action himself. Schröder stood there confused.

“It was time for the game to be over and it was time to get some food,” Westbrook said.

It was a classic, idiosyncratic Russ moment, perhaps the most fitting embodiment of his influence in Denver yet, as it took place away from the action of the game and gave the squad a fresh personality. That was a constant, even if there were no points or assists.

“It's not just about putting the ball in the basket,” Peyton Watson said when asked if the scoring surge is what the Nuggets had in mind when they brought Westbrook into the game. “Russ does so many things that a lot of people would never see. … All of those things are more important to me than whether he makes shots or misses.”