After one year with the Denver Nuggets, point guard Russell Westbrook has declined his player option for next season, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The former NBA MVP signed a two-year deal worth $6.8 million with the Nuggets last summer, but he will now enter free agency.
Westbrook came off the bench in more than half of Denver’s regular season games, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals on 44.9% shooting. His slights dropped in the Nuggets’ 13 postseason games, as they fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
The 36-year-old had surgery in May to repair two broken bones in his right hand, both of which were suffered during the regular season. In his newsletter, Word of Westbrook, he stated that he expected to make a full recovery.
“I’m grateful for everyone’s support all year and I can’t wait to be back out there at 100% soon,” Westbrook wrote. “The comeback is already in motion.”
Another Year On The Move
Westbrook spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Oklahoma City, helping them make the 2012 NBA Finals and winning the MVP award in 2017. Since then, however, the point guard has played on five teams in the last six seasons.
With stops in Houston, Washington, both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, and finally in Denver, he has transformed his career from a leading scorer to now a key role player. Westbrook’s latest stint with the Nuggets proved that he still has the potential to be a spark plug off the bench with high energy to compete against an opponent’s second unit.
“My ability to be able to be a force of nature on the floor is what I pride myself on, whatever that looks like,” Westbrook said after Denver’s opening-round series win against the Clippers.”Just take it for how it goes and whatever happens, you go with it and I’ve always been like that as long as I leave it on the floor.”
Westbrook To Test Free Agency
As he declines his player option with Denver next season, Westbrook enters a free-agent market that features a long list of other experienced point guards. Highlighted in that list are James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Fred VanVleet, Josh Giddey, and D’Angelo Russell.
Many of the summer’s top free-agent playmakers enter as either restricted free agents or with player options. Other unrestricted free agents point guards like Westbrook include Chris Paul, Spencer Dinwiddie, Dennis Schroder, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tre and Tyus Jones.
Most recently, Westbrook was reported to have been offered a ‘historic’ contract by EuroLeague’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, with no rumors on if he is expected to accept the deal.
Though Westbrook’s numbers have dropped off compared to his peak, he was a key addition for Denver this season and is likely to be a strong piece for another team next year. While he might hold the same value as other top free-agent point guards, his accomplishments speak for themselves.
Westbrook is one of just three players in NBA history to average triple-double, the only one to do so more than once (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021). He is a two-time scoring champion, three-time assists leader, a nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, and the 2017 NBA MVP.
Westbrook is the league’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and eight all-time in assists, but still without a title.
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