Russell Westbrook signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Nuggets, and the reaction was mostly negative. ESPN rated the deal a D. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor described it as “a complete disaster fit.”
In fairness, the former MVP was coming off a disastrous playoff series with the Clippers in which he shot only 26.0 percent from the field, and his lack of 3-point shooting was a major concern. There were whispers that his time as a useful rotation player was coming to an end.
There was one person who firmly believed in Westbrook. According to Harrison Wind of DNVR, Nikola Jokic “pushed behind the scenes” to acquire him.
Jokic recognized what many others had overlooked: the Nuggets could benefit greatly from what Westbrook still excels at.
Westbrook is still not a great shooter, but he’s been one of Denver’s most consistent players and a great replacement for the injured Aaron Gordon in the starting lineup.
Here’s what many critics missed about Westbrook’s remaining potential.
What Russell Westbrook critics missed about fit with Nuggets
Westbrook has amazing chemistry with Nikola Jokic
Some were concerned that Westbrook’s shooting struggles and need for the ball in his hands would prevent him from playing well with Jokic. That has proven to be the complete opposite.
Jokic has consistently gotten the most out of his teammates. The same holds true for Westbrook. According to PBP Stats, the Nuggets outscored opponents by 11.5 points per 100 possessions when those two were on the floor.
That has been fueled by Westbrook’s underappreciated passing and Jokic’s brilliance. Westbrook has helped Jokic more than any other player on the team, constantly looking for the big man down the court.
Westbrook has also been a capable offensive threat alongside Jokic. He is still not a great spot-up shooter, but he has taken on the Bruce Brown role from Denver’s championship days and developed into a great off-ball cutter.
That has never been a major part of Westbrook’s game, but he is cutting on a career-high 8.2 percent of his possessions this season, according to NBA statistics.
Jokic’s brilliant passing has convinced Westbrook to join that movement.
Westbrook was criticized for hijacking offensive possessions in Los Angeles. That has not happened in Denver, and he has been more than happy to play the role of facilitator.
Westbrook is a much better defender than he was given credit for
Westbrook hasn’t been known as a particularly good defender in the latter stages of his career, so it was surprising when Michael Malone revealed during the preseason that he intended to rely on Westbrook’s defensive ability.
“When people talk about Russell Westbrook, no one really mentions defense,” Malone said at the team’s media day. “End of games, he was on the opposing team’s best player every night.”
Malone was correct. Westbrook has been an inspiration on that end of the court, receiving praise throughout the season as well as several Defensive Player of the Game awards from the coach. He’s had several game-saving moments.
— John Brisker (@JohnBrisker2021) November 5, 2024
Westbrook has been much more active in the passing lanes, resulting in a lot of steals. He’s been a reliable help and on-ball defender, as well as a useful rebounder.
“I think defensively he’s been a rockstar,” Malone told reporters after the Nuggets defeated the Thunder earlier this season.
Westbrook is still a very good transition player
Westbrook is a difficult player to fit into a team. He admitted this following his first training camp practice.
“To be honest, (my skill-set) was unique; they simply did not place me in a position to be unique. Westbrook explained to reporters why it didn’t work out in Los Angeles: “I was in a position where I was playing a position that was not my own.” “Coach Malone allowing me to use my speed, my transition skill, to make other guys better, makes the game easy.”
That quote drew a lot of criticism for lacking self-awareness on social media, but it turned out to be completely accurate. Westbrook has improved significantly since the Nuggets allowed him to lead their transition attack. They improved from 16th in transition frequency last season to third this season.
Westbrook has been relentless in advancing the ball down the court. He’s been especially good at finding Jokic leaking out and hitting the big man for trail 3s. Despite his advanced age, he remains one of the most aggressive players on the floor and can get easy early offense looks.
There is no one in the league quite like Westbrook, and he can look bad in the wrong circumstances. He’s found a good one in Denver, allowing him to wrap up his career gracefully.
