Russell Westbrook makes bold decision on Denver Nuggets future
The nine-time NBA All-Star had a player option on his existing deal with the Nuggets but he’s decided to move on.
After less than a year with the team, it looks like Russell Westbrook’s time with the Denver Nuggets is over.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed a return to form in Denver and started 36 games for the team, the most in a season since 2021/22. But ESPN report that Westbrook is set to reject the player option in his Nuggets contract and is preparing to enter free agency at the end of this month.
Last summer Westbrook had few suitors after leaving the LA Clippers and subsequently being waived by the Utah Jazz, the NBA veteran signed a cut-price deal with the Nuggets. The additional year of his Nuggets deal would have been worth $3.4 million for the 2025/26 season and he can now expect to earn more elsewhere.
In his sole season with the Nuggets Westbrook averaged 13.3 points and shot at a rate of 44.9%. He also put up an average of 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game, impressive numbers considering that he was averaging only 27.9 minutes per game.
Across his stellar NBA career Westbrook has twice led the league for scoring and is the all-time leader in triple-doubles, with 203 to his name. In the twilight of his career he is still searching for a first NBA championship and could represent a good fit for a win-now team looking for a reliable shooter.
The only question mark will be his fitness after undergoing surgery on his right hand last month. The Nuggets announced that he was suffered multiple ligament tears, injuries that he had played through down the stretch.
Nevertheless he is expected to return to the court in time to take part in a full offseason training program this summer, wherever that may be.
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