Russell Westbrook played a role in Nuggets’ chaos and now might be bailing.
The veteran guard declined his player option with the Nuggets for the 2025-26 season and now will enter free agency, according to Marc Stein.
Westbrook had been slated to make $3.47 million had he opted into the contract.
The 36-year-old had a solid season with the Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points across 75 regular-season games, but his role on the team reportedly played a factor in head coach Michael Malone’s stunning firing.
The Nuggets moved on from both Malone and general manager Calvin Booth right before the end of the regular season due to tension between the two festering, among other reasons, with The Athletic reporting Westbrook “might have been the biggest lightning rod.”
Some in the organization reportedly did not approve of what they viewed as preferential treatment for the nine-time All-Star, in addition to the belief that second-year guard Jalen Pickett should play more.
Westbrook made critical mistakes down the stretch in a loss to the Timberwolves in a game that ultimately left the Nuggets with the No. 4 seed instead of the No. 3 spot.
“All the while, Malone’s choice to continue supporting Westbrook, despite the frustration he was causing on and off the floor, led to a loss of credibility among the team’s key players,” The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Tony Jones reported on April 10. “It was one thing when Malone handled (Nikola) Jokić and (Jamal) Murray with more leniency than the rest of their group, but affording Westbrook that sort of treatment, even with his Hall of Fame credentials, wasn’t received well by some.”
Westbrook averaged 13.8 points in 25.7 minutes in the Nuggets’ first-round series win over the Clippers, but tallied just 9.9 points in 22.7 minutes in the seven-game second-round series loss to the Thunder.
He now could be headed to his seventh team in what will be his 18th season, during which he’s become well traveled.
Westbrook spent his first 11 years with the Thunder, but has not lasted two full seasons with any of his five teams since — and that seemingly will include the Nuggets.