Russell Westbrook's Nuggets-Raptors statement goes viral

The Denver Nuggets celebrated their second straight win on Monday night, defeating the Toronto Raptors 121-119. This was the second game that star guard Jamal Murray missed due to the NBA's concussion protocol.

17-year-old veteran point guard Russell Westbrook, who started again in Murray's absence, finished the game with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Westbrook also made the game-winning stop on RJ Barrett's buzzer-beater attempt.

Since joining the Nuggets in free agency this summer, Westbrook has been praised by his new teammates for his skills on the court and his leadership throughout the roster. This was particularly noticeable among Denver's young players, as the former league MVP has already helped them develop.

When asked about it after Monday night's win, Westbrook gave an answer that went viral on social media.

“I love seeing the growth,” Westbrook said. “I love to see failure, I love to see frustration, I love to see adversity. I love to see joy, I love to see happiness. I love seeing all the mixed emotions because that's part of the game. Not only that, it will teach you a lot about life.”

This video from the Nuggets on Instagram has over 170,000 views. Fans were thrilled with the reaction from Westbrook, who always prides himself on being a leader – especially with his young teammates.

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