“Russell Westbrook makes the Wizards a serious playoff team”: Tim Hardaway Jr hypes up Russ in his appearance on the JJ Redick Podcast

Dallas Mavericks star Tim Hardaway Jr. believes that Russell Westbrook and the Wizards are more dangerous than the Lakers. 

As many fans remember, the Washington Wizards weren’t exactly the best team in the NBA during the starting few games of the season. The team won just 2 of their first 10 games and looked to be lottery-bound. However, the franchise has since recovered and is currently in the play-in tournament, something that both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal deserve massive credit for.

Both superstars finally seemed to have adjusted to playing to each other’s strengths and knowing their roles. The difference this made was probably one of the starkest in NBA history. The franchise finished the season winning 6 of their last 10, and looked very much capable of causing an upset against the biggest teams in the NBA.

Much like the rest of us, it seems Tim Hardaway Jr. has been observing the team during this period. And the Mavericks player recently heaped some massive praise onto the franchise.

Also Read: Shaq hilariously threatens Charles Barkley on NBAonTNT after having his grandmother compared to Robin Lopez in Celtics win over Wizards

Tim Hardaway Jr. believes Russell Westbrook and the Wizards are the likeliest to make the playoffs

With JJ Redick recently being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, him and Tim Hardaway Jr. recently became teammates. And so, naturally, they recently they got on air together on the latest edition of ‘Old Man and the Three’.

Here, Hardaway was asked about his thoughts on the Washington Wizards this season. And with an impressed look on his face, this is what he had to say.

“That team is probably the most dangerous team out of the four going into the play-in tournament… You have a guy in Russell Westbrook that’s on a tear, and ending the season averaging a triple-double again… and we’re looking at it like okay you’re averaging a triple-double big deal… people don’t understand that’s something that very hard to do.”

Russell Westbrook has made the playoffs every year but once since his rookie season. The one year he missed the playoffs, the OKC Thunder still won 45 games.

Certified winner. pic.twitter.com/iadSFjLsqi

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 18, 2021

It certainly makes sense for the Mavericks star to hold the Wizards in such high regard. However, fans may beg to differ that the LA Lakers are by far the more dangerous team in the play-in.

Additionally, with the franchise having lost to the Celtics since this episode, things aren’t looking so good. A clash against the Pacers is on the horizon, and it will be interesting to see who can come away with the final playoff spot by the end.

Also Read: Charles Barkley pulls on his ‘Guarantee’ button for the second time during Eastern Conference play in tournament

About the author

Tonoy Sengupta

Tonoy Sengupta is a Senior Editor at The SportsRush. Coming from an athletically inclined family, he has been surrounded by sports ever since he was 4 years old. But, while initially pouring all his time into Football (soccer), at 14, Tonoy discovered basketball through the countless highlights of Stephen Curry humiliating players from Curry Land. And just like that, a fiery passion for the game was ignited within Tonoy. And soon after, he decided to become a student of journalism, graduating in 2022, and choosing sports as his area of interest. Today, you can find him spending 99% of his time browsing through every type of content on every team in the NBA, before uncorking everything he has found to the world. In the 1% he isn't doing this, you can find him playing Basketball, Football, Volleyball, or practically any other sport he has had the opportunity to learn.

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