Russell Westbrook is ‘one of the best players in the league,’ says Jayson Tatum

The recently-designated All-Star starter had plenty of praise for his soon-to-be opponent Sunday.

Boston Celtics All-NBA small forward Jayson Tatum shared his thoughts about a different opponent he’ll be facing Sunday evening than he’s used to fielding questions about when playing a certain opposing team.

Childhood friends with Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, it’s usually Beal that Tatum gets peppered with questions about in pre- and post-game media availability sessions when the Celtics play the Wizards. But today, the Duke product fielded a question about Beal’s backcourt co-starter — former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook — as Washington continues with a spate of excellent play driven in no small part by the UCLA product.