Basketball is a funny business. One minute you’re the missing piece of a championship puzzle, and the next, you’re looking for a new zip code. That’s pretty much the story of the Denver Nuggets Russell Westbrook era. It was short. It was loud. It was honestly a lot more complicated than the box scores let on. When Denver signed the former MVP to a two-year, $6.8 million deal back in the summer of 2024, everyone had an opinion. Some people thought it was a genius move to bolster a bench that looked like it was running on fumes. Others thought it was a disaster waiting to happen because of the shooting splits.
The reality? It was a bit of both.
Russ didn't just show up to collect a paycheck. He brought that "get in your face" energy that Michael Malone absolutely raved about during training camp. You remember the quotes. Malone was talking about Russ guarding the other team’s best player and bringing a defensive edge that the Nuggets lost when Kentavious Caldwell-Pope headed to Orlando. And for a while, it actually worked.
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The Shocking Connection Between Westbrook and Jokic
If you just look at the shooting percentages, you’re missing the point. The weirdest thing about the 2024-25 season was how well Russell Westbrook and Nikola Jokic actually played together. You wouldn't think a high-usage, downhill guard would mesh with a slow-paced, methodical Serbian genius. But they did.
The Ringer actually called them "telepathic" at one point. They were running these inverted screen-and-rolls that had defenders looking like they were stuck in a blender. Westbrook would cut to the rim, and Jokic would find him with a pass that seemed physically impossible. Jokic even said after a game in early 2026—when Russ was already wearing a Sacramento Kings jersey—that their chemistry was surprisingly good for such a short stint.
- The "Perfect" Triple-Double: On December 30, 2024, Russ did something truly insane against the Utah Jazz. He put up a triple-double (16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) without missing a single shot. 7-for-7 from the field. 2-for-2 from the line. Zero turnovers.
- The Bench Spark: When Jamal Murray was struggling with his rhythm or sitting out with those nagging injuries, Westbrook was the guy keeping the second unit afloat.
- The Stats: He finished his lone season in Denver averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds. Those aren't MVP numbers, but for a guy on a veteran minimum-style deal? That’s high-level production.
But then, things got weird.
Why the Nuggets and Westbrook Split
Everything seemed fine until the 2025 offseason hit. Westbrook had a player option for the second year of his contract. Most people assumed he’d opt in. Why wouldn't he? He was playing on a contender with the best player in the world. Then the news broke: he declined the option.
A few months later, the truth came out. Russ didn't just walk away; he felt pushed.
During a post-game interview in November 2025, Westbrook was blunt. He told reporters, "The truth is that they didn't want me back." He basically said the front office told him not to pick up the option. It’s a classic NBA "it's not you, it's me" breakup. The Nuggets wanted more shooting and perhaps a bit more predictability. Westbrook, meanwhile, doesn't go where he’s not wanted.
Life After Denver: The Sacramento Chapter
Now, in early 2026, we’re seeing the sequel. Westbrook is in Sacramento, playing 30 minutes a night and putting up numbers that look suspiciously like his Denver stats. He’s averaging about 14.8 points and 7.0 assists. Just last week, he dropped 22 points on the Lakers and made it very clear he enjoys beating his former teams. He specifically mentioned he plays with a chip on his shoulder against franchises that let him go.
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The Sacramento Kings are currently experiencing the same "Brodie" roller coaster. One night he's hitting 4-of-8 from deep and leading a comeback; the next, he's 5-for-16 with five turnovers. It’s the Russell Westbrook experience. You take the chaos because the ceiling is so high, but eventually, the floor starts to creak.
What We Learned From the Denver Stint
The Denver Nuggets Russell Westbrook experiment proved that Russ can still be a positive contributor to a winning culture. He wasn't the "locker room cancer" that some media outlets liked to claim during his Lakers days. Malone loved him. Jokic loved him. The fans at Ball Arena genuinely embraced the energy.
However, the NBA is shifting toward hyper-efficiency. In Denver’s system, if you aren't a threat from the corner three, you eventually become a liability when the playoffs roll around and teams start sagging off you to double-team Jokic. That’s likely why Calvin Booth and the front office decided to move in a different direction.
If you’re looking for the actionable takeaway here, it’s about fit over talent. Even a Hall of Famer like Russ needs a very specific environment to thrive. If you're a coach or a manager, look at how Denver used him as a "battering ram" rather than a traditional floor general. It worked for 82 games, but it wasn't the long-term answer for a team chasing another ring.
Watch the Kings vs. Nuggets matchups for the rest of the 2026 season. The tension is real, and Russ is clearly playing like a man with something to prove every time he sees that Denver jersey. Keep an eye on his defensive matchups against Jamal Murray—that’s where the game is usually won or lost.