DENVER — The thought of Russell Westbrook in 2024 is much less attractive than ever.
The polarizing star has bounced round 5 NBA groups within the final six years, with nearly each cease labeling him as a scapegoat. At age 35, Westbrook is a glorified basketball experiment centered round him lastly sacrificing within the title of the higher good.
For 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets, Westbrook could be a blessing.
Two summers in the past, Jokic’s Nuggets climbed the NBA’s summit, capturing the franchise’s first-ever championship whereas soft-launching dynasty discussions. The Nuggets fell wanting profitable back-to-back titles in Could. They then fell into an offseason marked by turmoil at worst and stagnancy at finest.
Because the Nuggets see it, the now-eldest participant on their roster might catalyze them to glory as soon as extra in simultaneous pursuit of his first-ever elusive championship ring. Westbrook might be their new Bruce Brown, the backup, relentlessly aggressive guard who introduced limitless depth en path to Denver’s 2023 title.
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“This time of yr, all people’s gonna say they wanna win a championship,” Westbrook stated within the preseason. “However it’s not dwell or die, to be sincere. …
“So long as we, as a crew, put our greatest foot ahead, we are able to dwell with the outcomes. If that’s a championship, then I’m grateful for that. If not, I’m additionally grateful for the chance.”
With Westbrook round, the Nuggets’ title window would possibly keep extensive open. However not indefinitely.
“It’s going to be extremely onerous to win one other one,” Nuggets common supervisor Calvin Sales space stated. “You don’t know when this window will probably be over, so it’s important to reap the benefits of it.”
Nikola Jokic and Westbrook show opposites entice
Regardless of their reverse play types, Jokic and Westbrook hope to create fireworks collectively.
Since his days with the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Westbrook excels most when he strikes like a freight prepare, gaining steam on a railroad. He personifies managed chaos, an engine of perpetual and passionate vitality. And he by no means stops.
Jokic, then again, embodies eccentric creativity. He’s a cerebral conductor who has his fingertips throughout a sport by pulling the strings after they current themselves. In comparison with Westbrook, Jokic’s stoic face after a monster scoring transfer within the submit or a uncommon turnover on a poor cross are indistinguishable.
“It’s gonna be an excellent yr determining methods to make the sport simpler for [Jokic] as a result of he does it for everyone else,” Westbrook stated.
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With regards to Jokic, Westbrook has by no means had this expert of a middle. Jokic has by no means had an explosive guard who will get to the rim at will fairly like Westbrook. And Jokic understands higher than anybody that the Nuggets have to offer Westbrook free rein to be himself.
In different phrases, they need to let Russ be… Russ.
“[Westbrook] has to play how he’s snug,” Jokic defined early within the Nuggets’ preseason. “He needs to be himself as a result of that’s when he’s at his finest, and that’s what we’d like.”
That is all a great. Whereas optimistic about his match, the Nuggets perceive Westbrook’s historical past and the potential downsides of including him to their present combine. Westbrook’s contract construction — a two-year veteran minimal cope with a 2025 participant choice – suggests they’re considerably hedging their wager on him.
Nonetheless, the Nuggets received’t restrict Westbrook’s identification. Together with his abilities, you dive headfirst into the water or by no means.
Westbrook maintains head coach Michael Malone is already letting him use “his velocity” as a substitute of forcing him to be one thing he’s not, like when Westbrook was allowed to constantly run at prime velocity throughout Denver’s five-game preseason. He bought to the rim as he happy, and whereas it wasn’t all the time fairly, as he smoked some open layups, his often wild strategy was accepted as a result of he nonetheless set the desk for the Nuggets’ different key reserves in a top quality style.
On this manner, Westbrook presents a brand new actuality for the Jokic-era Nuggets. They’re well-known for taking part in at a gradual, methodical tempo, all the time attempting to find good pictures, regardless of how lengthy it takes. Per RealGM, Denver was twenty seventh within the NBA in offensive tempo final yr. It’s a small preseason pattern measurement, however Denver was fourth in offensive tempo this October, with Westbrook pushing the ball on the forefront of that cost.
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Whereas this speedy strategy hasn’t proved to be solely fruitful but, and it might take time to essentially come collectively, it might be a well-worn wrinkle that makes the Nuggets much less predictable and more durable to defend.
Because the newcomer, it’s as much as Westbrook to point out sufficient curiosity to construct chemistry together with his new teammates, too.
At Nuggets media day, Westbrook stated he’d exit of his technique to break bread with guys on the street and foster new relationships. You see it when Westbrook trades pleasant barbs at apply with promising third-year ahead Peyton Watson, a Southern California native who grew up idolizing him. You additionally see it when Westbrook takes rookie level guard Trey Alexander by his facet whereas speaking to the media to assist him turn into a greater public speaker.
It looks like Westbrook is genuinely thinking about constructing with Jokic, respecting his expertise whereas appreciating that the Nuggets are the reigning MVP’s crew.
“To be on the ground with [Jokic] is an honor, and I’m grateful for that,” Westbrook stated. “He does so many various issues on the ground that permit folks to be nice.”
How Russell Westbrook is Jamal Murray’s steward
The principle purpose that Westbrook now calls Denver house is without doubt one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets and techniques.
“It’s my job to push [Jamal Murray] each night time to be one of the best that he may be,” Westbrook stated. “He’s an unbelievable participant, and he nonetheless has a lot room to get higher in numerous areas. I’m grateful to have the ability to be right here and assist him alongside that journey.”
The Nuggets possible received’t win one other title with Jokic if Murray doesn’t play at his ceiling. They actually wouldn’t have received in 2023 with out his electrical 20-game run. None of their different roster questions matter as a lot as Murray pulling his weight.
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Even after a tough 2024 postseason, the Nuggets appear to imagine Murray will flip the nook. They wouldn’t have given him $200 million in the event that they didn’t.
That’s why the skilled Westbrook is their Murray insurance coverage coverage. Murray has already observed Westbrook’s luminary presence.
“I grew up watching [Westbrook],” Murray stated. “To take a look at Russ is like, ‘Oh, rattling… that’s Russ.’ Each time he’s within the health club, he lifts not simply me however all people’s spirit and consciousness.”
For some, having a chaperone could be an annoyance. They’d lash out with insecurity. However when Westbrook declares he’ll push Murray whereas later miming his trademark “blue arrow” celebration throughout a photograph shoot, it’s clear he’s there to be his confidant, too.
That’s why Murray doesn’t seem bothered by Westbrook. He understands his presence is to his profit.
“Russ brings his personal vitality whether or not you’re with him or not,” Murray mused. “That’s one of the best half… he goes, works and tries to guide by instance.”
Russell Westbrook offers the Nuggets the last word motivation
Jokic’s Nuggets have by no means been exuberant. The Western Convention’s winningest crew during the last half-decade is infamous for carrying itself with quiet confidence.
However this type of strategy can lend itself to complacency. That’s the place Westbrook’s persistence is available in.
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Malone has expressed as a lot about his veteran sixth man. At each step, Malone has praised Westbrook’s impact on the remainder of his gamers earlier than musing about that cliché however priceless “win it for the veteran” motivation.
“The one factor that [Westbrook] hasn’t completed is profitable an NBA championship,” Malone stated. “That’s the one factor lacking from a really spectacular resume.”
Westbrook’s impression is clear amongst Denver’s core gamers, too.
It begins with Murray, who asserts that Westbrook’s “relentless vitality” conjures up him. It continues with sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr., who’s struck by Westbrook appearing like “he’s the youngest man on the court docket.” It’s obtrusive when ascending bench scorer Julian Strawther insists he has been connected to Westbrook’s hip for the reason that second he signed with the Nuggets in the summertime.
However nobody summed up Westbrook’s impression on a Nuggets crew again on the hunt for one more title higher than stalwart Aaron Gordon, Denver’s emotional spine.
If Gordon says profitable for legendary teammates like Westbrook (and Jokic) is what now conjures up him greater than something as a basketball participant, it’s protected to say the remainder of the Nuggets really feel the identical manner.
“Nikola Jokic will most likely end his profession as one of many best ever to play basketball,” Gordon stated. “That’s why I push myself and work relentlessly to raise his time within the NBA. It’s the identical with Russell. He’ll even be a Corridor of Famer. I’m doing every little thing I can to attempt to get him a hoop.”
