The Denver Nuggets picked up their second straight victory on Monday night, beating the Toronto Raptors 121-119. It was the second game that star guard Jamal Murray missed due to the NBA’s concussion protocol.

Starting in Murray’s absence, 17-year veteran point guard Russell Westbrook finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists. Westbrook also got the game-winning save on RJ Barrett’s attempted swing.

Since joining the Nuggets in free agency this summer, Westbrook has been praised by his new teammates for his abilities on the court and his leadership across their roster. This has been especially noticeable among Denver’s younger players, as the former league MVP has already helped them grow.

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 like to see mistakes, I like to see frustration, I like to see adversity. I like to see joy, I like to see happiness. I like to see all these emotions mixed together, because it’s part of the game. And not only that, it will teach you a lot about life.

This Nuggets video on Instagram has had more than 170,000 views. Fans loved the response from Westbrook, who always prides himself on being a leader – especially towards his younger teammates.

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