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

DENVER — The thought of Russell Westbrook successful 2024 is little enticing than ever.

The polarizing prima has bounced astir 5 NBA teams successful nan past six years, pinch almost each extremity labeling him arsenic a scapegoat. At property 35, Westbrook is simply a glorified hoops experiment centered astir him yet sacrificing successful nan sanction of nan greater good. 

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

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

As nan Nuggets spot it, nan now-eldest subordinate connected their roster could catalyze them to glory erstwhile much successful simultaneous pursuit of his first-ever elusive title ring. Westbrook could beryllium their caller Bruce Brown, nan backup, relentlessly competitory defender who brought endless strength en way to Denver’s 2023 title. 

“This clip of year, everybody’s gonna opportunity they wanna triumph a championship,” Westbrook said successful nan preseason. “But it’s not unrecorded aliases die, to beryllium honest. … 

“As agelong arsenic we, arsenic a team, put our champion ft forward, we tin unrecorded pinch nan results. If that’s a championship, past I’m grateful for that. If not, I’m besides grateful for nan opportunity.”

With Westbrook around, nan Nuggets’ title model mightiness enactment wide open. But not indefinitely.

“It’s going to beryllium incredibly difficult to triumph different one,” Nuggets wide head Calvin Booth said. “You don’t cognize erstwhile this model will beryllium over, truthful you person to return advantage of it.”

Nikola Jokic and Westbrook beryllium opposites attract

Despite their other play styles, Jokic and Westbrook dream to create fireworks together.

Since his days pinch nan Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook excels astir erstwhile he moves for illustration a freight train, gaining steam connected a railroad. He personifies controlled chaos, an motor of perpetual and passionate energy. And he ne'er stops.

Jokic, connected nan different hand, embodies eccentric creativity. He is simply a cerebral conductor who has his fingertips each complete a crippled by pulling nan strings erstwhile they coming themselves. Compared to Westbrook, Jokic’s stoic look aft a monster scoring move successful nan station aliases a uncommon turnover connected a mediocre walk are indistinguishable.

“It’s gonna beryllium a awesome twelvemonth figuring retired ways to make nan crippled easier for [Jokic] because he does it for everybody else,” Westbrook said.

When it comes to Jokic, Westbrook has ne'er had this skilled of a center. Jokic has ne'er had an explosive defender who gets to nan rim astatine will rather for illustration Westbrook. And Jokic understands amended than anyone that nan Nuggets person to springiness Westbrook free rein to beryllium himself. 

In different words, they person to fto Russ be… Russ. 

“[Westbrook] has to play really he’s comfortable,” Jokic explained early successful nan Nuggets’ preseason. “He has to beryllium himself because that’s erstwhile he’s astatine his best, and that’s what we need.”

This is each an ideal. While optimistic astir his fit, nan Nuggets understand Westbrook’s history and nan imaginable downsides of adding him to their existent mix. Westbrook’s statement building — a two-year seasoned minimum woody pinch a 2025 subordinate option – suggests they’re somewhat hedging their stake connected him. 

Still, nan Nuggets won’t limit Westbrook’s identity. With his skills, you dive headfirst into nan h2o aliases not astatine all. 

Westbrook maintains caput coach Michael Malone is already letting him usage “his speed” alternatively of forcing him to beryllium thing he’s not, for illustration erstwhile Westbrook was allowed to consistently tally astatine apical velocity during Denver’s five-game preseason. He sewage to nan rim arsenic he pleased, and while it wasn’t ever pretty, arsenic he smoked immoderate unfastened layups, his occasionally chaotic attack was accepted because he still group nan array for nan Nuggets’ different cardinal reserves successful a value fashion.  

In this way, Westbrook presents a caller reality for nan Jokic-era Nuggets. They are celebrated for playing astatine a slow, methodical pace, ever hunting for bully shots, nary matter really agelong it takes. Per RealGM, Denver was 27th successful nan NBA successful violative gait past year. It’s a mini preseason sample size, but Denver was 4th successful violative gait this October, pinch Westbrook pushing nan shot astatine nan forefront of that charge.

While this speedy attack hasn’t proved to beryllium wholly fruitful yet, and it whitethorn return clip to really travel together, it could beryllium a well-worn wrinkle that makes nan Nuggets little predictable and harder to defend.

As nan newcomer, it’s up to Westbrook to show capable curiosity to build chemistry pinch his caller teammates, too.

At Nuggets media day, Westbrook said he’d spell retired of his measurement to break breadstuff pinch guys connected nan roadworthy and foster caller relationships. You spot it erstwhile Westbrook trades friends barbs astatine believe pinch promising third-year guardant Peyton Watson, a Southern California autochthonal who grew up idolizing him. You besides spot it erstwhile Westbrook takes rookie constituent defender Trey Alexander by his broadside while talking to nan media to thief him go a amended nationalist speaker. 

It seems for illustration Westbrook is genuinely willing successful building pinch Jokic, respecting his talent while appreciating that nan Nuggets are nan reigning MVP’s team.

“To beryllium connected nan level pinch [Jokic] is an honor, and I’m grateful for that,” Westbrook said. “He does truthful galore different things connected nan level that let group to beryllium great.”

How Russell Westbrook is Jamal Murray’s steward

The main logic that Westbrook now calls Denver location is 1 of nan NBA’s worst-kept secrets.

“It’s my occupation to push [Jamal Murray] each nighttime to beryllium nan champion that he tin be,” Westbrook said. “He’s an unbelievable player, and he still has truthful overmuch room to get amended successful a batch of areas. I’m grateful to beryllium capable to beryllium present and thief him on that journey.”

The Nuggets apt won’t triumph different title pinch Jokic if Murray doesn’t play astatine his ceiling. They surely wouldn’t person won successful 2023 without his electrical 20-game run. None of their different roster questions matter arsenic overmuch arsenic Murray pulling his weight. 

Even aft a unsmooth 2024 postseason, nan Nuggets look to judge Murray will move nan corner. They wouldn’t person given him $200 cardinal if they didn’t.

That’s why nan master Westbrook is their Murray security policy. Murray has already noticed Westbrook’s luminary presence. 

“I grew up watching [Westbrook],” Murray said. “To look astatine Russ is like, ‘Oh, damn… that’s Russ.’ Every clip he’s successful nan gym, he lifts not conscionable maine but everybody’s tone and awareness.”

For some, having a chaperone would beryllium an annoyance. They’d lash retired pinch insecurity. But erstwhile Westbrook declares he’ll push Murray while later miming his trademark “blue arrow” ceremony during a photograph shoot, it’s clear he’s location to beryllium his confidant, too. 

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

“Russ brings his ain power whether you’re pinch him aliases not,” Murray mused. “That’s nan champion part… he goes, useful and tries to lead by example.”

Russell Westbrook gives nan Nuggets nan eventual motivation

Jokic’s Nuggets person ne'er been exuberant. The Western Conference’s winningest squad complete nan past half-decade is notorious for carrying itself pinch quiet confidence.

But this benignant of attack tin lend itself to complacency. That’s wherever Westbrook’s persistence comes in.

Malone has expressed arsenic overmuch astir his seasoned sixth man. At each step, Malone has praised Westbrook’s effect connected nan remainder of his players earlier musing astir that cliché but valuable “win it for nan veteran” motivation.

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

Westbrook’s effect is evident among Denver’s halfway players, too. 

It starts pinch Murray, who asserts that Westbrook’s “relentless energy” inspires him. It continues pinch sharpshooter Michael Porter Jr., who is struck by Westbrook acting for illustration “he’s nan youngest feline connected nan court.” It’s glaring erstwhile ascending chair scorer Julian Strawther insists he has been attached to Westbrook’s hep since nan infinitesimal he signed pinch nan Nuggets successful nan summer. 

But nary 1 summed up Westbrook’s effect connected a Nuggets squad backmost connected nan hunt for different title better than stalwart Aaron Gordon, Denver’s affectional backbone. 

If Gordon says winning for legendary teammates for illustration Westbrook (and Jokic) is what now inspires him much than thing arsenic a hoops player, it’s safe to opportunity nan remainder of nan Nuggets consciousness nan aforesaid way.

“Nikola Jokic will astir apt decorativeness his profession arsenic 1 of nan top ever to play basketball,” Gordon said. “That’s why I push myself and activity relentlessly to elevate his clip successful nan NBA. It’s nan aforesaid pinch Russell. He’ll besides beryllium a Hall of Famer. I’m doing everything I tin to effort and get him a ring.”