Russell Westbrook scored 16 points to go along with five assists, five rebounds and five steals in the Denver Nuggets’ 120-101 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday night.
The 9-time All-Star and 2017 league MVP has assumed a reserve role as a member of the Nuggets, one that has served him well since his arrival in the summer of 2024.
Westbrook contributed heavily to his team’s second-round playoff berth with a wonderful performance in Game 7, setting up a potentially emotional return to the city he called home for the first 11 seasons of his illustrious career.
Come Monday, the future Hall of Fame inductee will once again take the floor in a postseason contest in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder faithful, only this time he’ll be aiming to send their team packing to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
When asked about the upcoming series against Oklahoma City during a post-game press conference, the 17-year veteran offered a candid response, though he reminded media members that his main objective is to keep Denver’s season alive.
“That’s like home for me,” Westbrook shared with reporters Saturday night.
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“I always got love for everybody there. The people, the fans, and I know it’s mutual.”
“But they also know the reason why they do love me is because I compete at a high level, and I’m going to do that every night. That’s all I can do, is go out and be myself and compete, and try to go out and steal one there.”
After being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, Westbrook would develop into one of the greatest players at the point guard position that the game has ever seen.
The explosive athlete and phenomenal all-around offensive threat helped lead the Thunder to a 2012 NBA Finals appearance, and compiled career box score figures of 23.0 points, 8.4 assists and 7.0 rebounds through his 821-game tenure with the franchise. Whenever Westbrook decides to hang up the sneakers, his No. 0 jersey will surely hang from the rafters at the Paycom Center.
Though the eventual return for the all-time great and franchise legend may be a tear-jerker, the fiery guard is focused on capturing an elusive first NBA championship ring as a member of the Nuggets, even if it means eliminating his former team in the process.
Westbrook already took care of business against a former employer in the Clippers, and now he’ll have an opportunity to get back at another on a hopeful path to claiming the 2025 NBA title.
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