In a season filled with tension, Russell Westbrook — perhaps surprisingly — has been one of the Nuggets’ most consistent performers.
The UCLA alum isn’t infallible, but he’s struck up quite the partnership with Serbian supernova Nikola Jokic, continuing to prove a jack-of-all trades in yet another NBA stop.
Westbrook’s performances have grown increasingly valuable for a Denver side that looks a lot different than its 2023 pomp. The two parties have experienced a whole lot of change as of late, with the Nuggets losing noted role players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Jeff Green while Westbrook has swapped jerseys three times since the start of the 2022 season.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
So, just how — and why — did Westbrook, a former Clippers talent, make a move to the Mile High City? Here’s what you need to know.
Why did Russell Westbrook leave the Clippers for Nuggets?
Westbook’s decision to part ways with the Clippers was shrouded in a bit of mystery. Reports emerged shortly after Los Angeles’ season ended linking the former MVP with a move away from Tinseltown.
Westbrook swiftly denied the suggestion that he wanted out, labeling the chatter as likely being “fabricated.”
Still, Westbrook’s ties to his employers appeared to be fraying ever so slightly. An exit, once deemed unfathomable for a relatively cheap L.A. native like Westbrook, became a possibility.
On July 18, it happened. Westbrook, a second-round pick swap, and cash considerations were sent to Utah in exchange for Kris Dunn in a sign-and-trade once it became clear the Clippers and Westbrook were not long for another season together. It seems L.A. made that call after getting mixed results during their season-and-a-half in the Westbrook business.
The prospect of Westbrook in Salt Lake City — a venue he has a checkered history with — was unenviable for a variety of reasons. So, the Jazz cut him loose, buying out the final year of Westbrook’s contract and allowing him to take his talents to a contender.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket
A few days later, Westbrook found his home, inking a two-year, $6.8 million deal with the Nuggets — reportedly after lobbying from Jokic. The contract features a player option for the 2025-26 season.
At 36, Westbrook is firmly in the twilight stage of his glimmering career. Despite some of his foibles, he remains a winning player, with his athleticism and motor still making an impact some 17 years into his professional career.
Denver projected to be in the mix for an NBA crown ahead of the 2024-25 season, with the Jokic-Jamal Murray-Aaron Gordon-Michael Porter Jr. core expected to take strides after a dour showing in the 2024 postseason.
That didn’t quite happen during the regular season; while Jokic produced like the MVP candidate he is, Murray, Porter Jr., and Gordon were felled by injury and underperformance. The Nuggets’ supporting cast was similarly underwhelming save for Westbrook and Christian Braun
A 50-win season is nothing to scoff at, but the Nuggets fell well short of the Thunder’s historic pace. Things clearly weren’t right in .paradise — the franchise fired its head coach and general manager on the eve of postseason play.
Still, on an individual level, Westbrook has continued to impress. He’s had some tense moments, including an error-filled display in a late-season loss to the Timberwolves. But Westbrook’s scoring and playmaking leapt markedly between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He flaunted that improvement during Game 1, overcoming a few miscues to ensure Denver walked out of Ball Arena with an overtime victory.
Russell Westbrook contract details
Westbrook reportedly signed a two-year, $6.8 million deal with the Nuggets, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. It comes with a player option for the 2025-26 season.
- 2024-25: $3,303,771
- 2025-26: $3,468,960
He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 if he does not pick up the player option. Westbrook will be 38 at that point.
Russell Westbrook sign-and-trade details
Clippers get:
Jazz get:
- G Russell Westbrook (bought out)
- Second-round pick swap
- Cash
The Clippers traded Westbrook away on July 18, acquiring Dunn for Westbrook, a second-round pick swap, and cash. Los Angeles proceeded to ink Dunn to a three-year, $17 million deal following the trade, while Utah bought out Westbrook so he was free to sign with another team.
Russell Westbrook 2024-25 season stats
- 13.3 points per game
- 6.1 rebounds per game
- 4.9 assists per game
- 1.4 steals per game
- 0.5 blocks per game
- 3.2 turnovers per game
- 44.9 percent field goal shooting
- 32.3 percent 3-point shooting
- 66.1 percent free throw shooting
