On Tuesday night’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” appearance, Houston Rockets star and former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook insisted that he’s “always ready” when asked about the potential of a quick restart of the suspended 2019-20 season.
The league has been on hiatus since March 12 due to the U.S. outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Westbrook has since traveled back to his hometown of Los Angeles, where he’s living with his wife and children amid stay-at-home orders throughout most of the nation.
But recent reports have suggested increased optimism that the season will be able to resume at some point, and Westbrook appears to be maintaining peak fitness in the event that such a day comes. On Wednesday, his regimen included an intense workout with a trainer (maintaining physical distancing, of course) on a sand volleyball court.
In his first season with the Rockets (40-24), the 31-year-old Westbrook is averaging 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
Coming off an offseason knee procedure and the transition to a new team, the 6-foot-3 guard has looked increasingly comfortable as the season has progressed, culminating with a line of 33.4 points (54.9% FG, 40.0% on 3-pointers), 7.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game in February. Led by the nine-time All-Star, Houston went 9-2 in that month.
