Russell Westbrook says he doesn’t have to ‘tough the ball’ to make an impact with Rockets

Earlier this month, the Houston Rockets made the big splash move of acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook in exchange for star point guard Chris Paul.

Since then, there have been questions about how Westbrook and James Harden will be able to fit alongside each other on the court given their respective playing styles. However, Westbrook has voiced that he’s willing to make the necessary sacrifices to make it work in Houston, according to Royce Young of ESPN.

“We both understand that we have one common goal and that’s to win a championship. We understand what we have to do. I’m not worried about it, and I know James isn’t worried about it. I can play off the ball; I don’t have to touch the ball to impact the game. That’s the best way for me to come in and impact this team. I can do other things on the floor to make sure we have a better chance to win.”

Westbrook has proven to be one of the league’s most talented players, but the way he plays could require him to make some drastic changes next to Harden. These two former league MVPs have shown that they operate best with the ball in their hands.

Although Harden has shown the ability to score off the ball, Westbrook has proven throughout his career that he has struggled with being an efficient scorer. He has been just over 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc for his career, which will likely become a more scrutinized part of his game.

It may help that the two are former teammates, but much has changed in their development and playing styles since their time together with the Oklahoma City Thunder.