Russell Westbrook performed a job in Nuggets’ chaos and now may be bailing.
The veteran guard declined his participant choice with the Nuggets for the 2025-26 season and now will enter free company, in accordance with Marc Stein.
Westbrook had been slated to make $3.47 million had he opted into the contract.
The 36-year-old had a stable season with the Nuggets, averaging 13.3 factors throughout 75 regular-season video games, however his position on the staff reportedly performed a consider head coach Michael Malone’s beautiful firing.
The Nuggets moved on from each Malone and common supervisor Calvin Sales space proper earlier than the top of the common season resulting from stress between the 2 festering, amongst different causes, with The Athletic reporting Westbrook “might have been the biggest lightning rod.”
Some within the group reportedly didn’t approve of what they considered as preferential remedy for the nine-time All-Star, along with the idea that second-year guard Jalen Pickett ought to play extra.
Westbrook made essential errors down the stretch in a loss to the Timberwolves in a recreation that finally left the Nuggets with the No. 4 seed as an alternative of the No. 3 spot.
“All the while, Malone’s choice to continue supporting Westbrook, despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor, led to a loss of credibility among the team’s key players,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Tony Jones reported on April 10. “It was one thing when Malone handled (Nikola) Jokić and (Jamal) Murray with more leniency than the rest of their group, but affording Westbrook that sort of treatment, even with his Hall of Fame credentials, wasn’t received well by some.”
Westbrook averaged 13.8 factors in 25.7 minutes within the Nuggets’ first-round sequence win over the Clippers, however tallied simply 9.9 factors in 22.7 minutes within the seven-game second-round sequence loss to the Thunder.
He now may very well be headed to his seventh staff in what shall be his 18th season, throughout which he’s grow to be properly traveled.
Westbrook spent his first 11 years with the Thunder, however has not lasted two full seasons with any of his 5 groups since — and that seemingly will embody the Nuggets.
