Behind the scenes, Russell Westbrook is proving he's the secret ingredient to a second Nuggets title

DENVER — The idea of Russell Westbrook in 2024 is less enticing than ever.

The polarizing star has bounced around five NBA teams in the last six years, with almost every stop labeling him as a scapegoat. At age 35, Westbrook is a glorified basketball experiment centered around him finally sacrificing in the name of the greater good. 

For three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his Denver Nuggets, Westbrook might be a blessing. 

Two summers ago, Jokic’s Nuggets climbed the NBA’s summit, capturing the franchise’s first-ever championship while soft-launching dynasty discussions. The Nuggets fell short of winning back-to-back titles in May. They then fell into an offseason marked by turmoil at worst and stagnancy at best.

As the Nuggets see it, the now-eldest player on their roster could catalyze them to glory once more in simultaneous pursuit of his first-ever elusive championship ring. Westbrook could be their new Bruce Brown, the backup, relentlessly competitive guard who brought endless intensity en route to Denver’s 2023 title. 

“This time of year, everybody’s gonna say they wanna win a championship,” Westbrook said in the preseason. “But it’s not live or die, to be honest. … 

“As long as we, as a team, put our best foot forward, we can live with the results. If that’s a championship, then I’m grateful for that. If not, I’m also grateful for the opportunity.”

With Westbrook around, the Nuggets’ title window might stay wide open. But not indefinitely.

“It’s going to be incredibly hard to win another one,” Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth said. “You don’t know when this window will be over, so you have to take advantage of it.”

Nikola Jokic and Westbrook prove opposites attract

Despite their opposite play styles, Jokic and Westbrook hope to create fireworks together.

Since his days with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook excels most when he moves like a freight train, gaining steam on a railroad. He personifies controlled chaos, an engine of perpetual and passionate energy. And he never stops.

Jokic, on the other hand, embodies eccentric creativity. He is a cerebral conductor who has his fingertips all over a game by pulling the strings when they present themselves. Compared to Westbrook, Jokic’s stoic face after a monster scoring move in the post or a rare turnover on a poor pass are indistinguishable.

“It’s gonna be a great year figuring out ways to make the game easier for [Jokic] because he does it for everybody else,” Westbrook said.

When it comes to Jokic, Westbrook has never had this skilled of a center. Jokic has never had an explosive guard who gets to the rim at will quite like Westbrook. And Jokic understands better than anyone that the Nuggets have to give Westbrook free rein to be himself. 

In other words, they have to let Russ be… Russ. 

“[Westbrook] has to play how he’s comfortable,” Jokic explained early in the Nuggets’ preseason. “He has to be himself because that’s when he’s at his best, and that’s what we need.”

This is all an ideal. While optimistic about his fit, the Nuggets understand Westbrook’s history and the potential downsides of adding him to their current mix. Westbrook’s contract structure — a two-year veteran minimum deal with a 2025 player option – suggests they’re somewhat hedging their bet on him. 

Still, the Nuggets won’t limit Westbrook’s identity. With his skills, you dive headfirst into the water or not at all. 

Westbrook maintains head coach Michael Malone is already letting him use “his speed” instead of forcing him to be something he’s not, like when Westbrook was allowed to consistently run at top speed during Denver’s five-game preseason. He got to the rim as he pleased, and while it wasn’t always pretty, as he smoked some open layups, his occasionally wild approach was accepted because he still set the table for the Nuggets’ other key reserves in a quality fashion.  

In this way, Westbrook presents a new reality for the Jokic-era Nuggets. They are famous for playing at a slow, methodical pace, always hunting for good shots, no matter how long it takes. Per RealGM, Denver was 27th in the NBA in offensive pace last year. It’s a small preseason sample size, but Denver was fourth in offensive pace this October, with Westbrook pushing the ball at the forefront of that charge.

While this speedy approach hasn’t proved to be entirely fruitful yet, and it may take time to really come together, it could be a well-worn wrinkle that makes the Nuggets less predictable and harder to defend.

As the newcomer, it’s up to Westbrook to show enough curiosity to build chemistry with his new teammates, too.

At Nuggets media day, Westbrook said he’d go out of his way to break bread with guys on the road and foster new relationships. You see it when Westbrook trades friendly barbs at practice with promising third-year forward Peyton Watson, a Southern California native who grew up idolizing him. You also see it when Westbrook takes rookie point guard Trey Alexander by his side while talking to the media to help him become a better public speaker. 

It seems like Westbrook is genuinely interested in building with Jokic, respecting his talent while appreciating that the Nuggets are the reigning MVP’s team.

“To be on the floor with [Jokic] is an honor, and I’m grateful for that,” Westbrook said. “He does so many different things on the floor that allow people to be great.”

How Russell Westbrook is Jamal Murray’s steward

The main reason that Westbrook now calls Denver home is one of the NBA’s worst-kept secrets.

“It’s my job to push [Jamal Murray] every night to be the best that he can be,” Westbrook said. “He’s an unbelievable player, and he still has so much room to get better in a lot of areas. I’m grateful to be able to be here and help him along that journey.”

The Nuggets likely won’t win another title with Jokic if Murray doesn’t play at his ceiling. They certainly wouldn’t have won in 2023 without his electric 20-game run. None of their other roster questions matter as much as Murray pulling his weight. 

Even after a rough 2024 postseason, the Nuggets seem to believe Murray will turn the corner. They wouldn’t have given him $200 million if they didn’t.

That’s why the professional Westbrook is their Murray insurance policy. Murray has already noticed Westbrook’s luminary presence. 

“I grew up watching [Westbrook],” Murray said. “To look at Russ is like, ‘Oh, damn… that’s Russ.’ Every time he’s in the gym, he lifts not just me but everybody’s spirit and awareness.”

For some, having a chaperone would be an annoyance. They’d lash out with insecurity. But when Westbrook declares he’ll push Murray while later miming his trademark “blue arrow” celebration during a photo shoot, it’s clear he’s there to be his confidant, too. 

That’s why Murray doesn’t appear bothered by Westbrook. He understands his presence is to his benefit. 

“Russ brings his own energy whether you’re with him or not,” Murray mused. “That’s the best part… he goes, works and tries to lead by example.”

Russell Westbrook gives the Nuggets the ultimate motivation

Jokic’s Nuggets have never been exuberant. The Western Conference’s winningest team over the last half-decade is notorious for carrying itself with quiet confidence.

But this sort of approach can lend itself to complacency. That’s where Westbrook’s persistence comes in.

Malone has expressed as much about his veteran sixth man. At every step, Malone has praised Westbrook’s effect on the rest of his players before musing about that cliché but valuable “win it for the veteran” motivation.

“The only thing that [Westbrook] hasn’t accomplished is winning an NBA championship,” Malone said. “That’s the only thing missing from a very impressive resume.”

Westbrook’s impact is evident among Denver’s core players, too. 

It starts with Murray, who asserts that Westbrook’s “relentless energy” inspires him. It continues with sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr., who is struck by Westbrook acting like “he’s the youngest guy on the court.” It’s glaring when ascending bench scorer Julian Strawther insists he has been attached to Westbrook’s hip since the moment he signed with the Nuggets in the summer. 

But no one summed up Westbrook’s impact on a Nuggets team back on the hunt for another title better than stalwart Aaron Gordon, Denver’s emotional backbone. 

If Gordon says winning for legendary teammates like Westbrook (and Jokic) is what now inspires him more than anything as a basketball player, it’s safe to say the rest of the Nuggets feel the same way.

“Nikola Jokic will probably finish his career as one of the greatest ever to play basketball,” Gordon said. “That’s why I push myself and work relentlessly to elevate his time in the NBA. It’s the same with Russell. He’ll also be a Hall of Famer. I’m doing everything I can to try and get him a ring.”