According to Hoops Wire, an anonymous NBA scout has indicated that 17-year NBA veteran Russell Westbrook is dragging down the Denver Nuggets and should, be relieved of his services. The Nuggets have struggled out of the gate this season, and Westbrook has followed suit. Still, whether he is deserving of the harsh critique leveled at him is debatable. At 1-2, the Nuggets are looking to get back on track, having defeated the Toronto Raptors on Monday night for their first win.
According To Anonymous NBA Scout, the Denver Nuggets Should Cut Ties With Russell Westbrook
Is the 17-Year Vet Truly Washed?
The career Westbrook has sustained for 17 seasons has been predicated on explosive energy, aggressive play, and wild statistics. However, these past several years have seen Westbrook jump from five different NBA teams. In 2008, he was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and spent 11 years there. Since 2019, he has bounced from the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards to both Los Angeles teams: Lakers and Clippers, and now, the Nuggets. It’s been a rough go as Westbrook’s game has precipitously dropped off in recent years. His fit on many of the aforementioned teams has failed in a disappointing fashion.
Westbrook signed for two years and $6.8 million this offseason to join Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the hopes of helping Denver get back to the NBA Finals, which they won just two years ago. Unfortunately, Westbrook has looked, dare I say, washed. One could argue he has resembled a washed player since being traded to the Lakers in 2021. The Nuggets as a team have struggled, dropping their first two games before picking up their first win Monday in Toronto. In Denver’s first three games, Westbrook has scored only 17 points while shooting 5-25 from the field. His play has apparently sparked one anonymous NBA scout to justify why the Nuggets should consider cutting Westbrook.
“They need to cut Russ. He can’t shoot. They have no spacing when he’s on the court. Teams are literally daring him to shoot and just crowding Jokic in the paint,” the scout told HoopsWire. “And when he drives to the rim, he gets so deep and out of position that he can’t hit layups. Russ needs to retire. He’s not a good player anymore.”
Teams have been daring Westbrook to shoot for several years now, prompting many in the NBA media to criticize his declining play and poor basketball decisions. Skip Bayless, former Fox Sports 1 television pundit, often refers to Westbrook as “Westbrick” due to his poor shooting efforts. Fair or foul on the part of Bayless, the NBA’s undisputed triple-double leader (199) truly has lost his shooting touch, and the proof is evident.
Retirement Doesn’t Seem Very Westbrook-ian
Westbrook comes across as that player who will only retire if forced to. He simply gives off that vibe. He’s stubborn in every way and has neglected to change his game to become a better fit for teams. The anonymous NBA scout believes that Westbrook should hang it up. The chances of the Nuggets actually cutting him are greater than retirement. There would likely be one or two teams who would take Westbrook on for a playoff push.
Nevertheless, Westbrook seems to have failed to understand the type of player he is now, and that’s where he’s gotten himself into trouble. It’s also why he’s on his fifth team in five years. The Nuggets may not cut him; however, could there be a trade at some point? The Nuggets have championship aspirations. Despite the poor season’s start, they’re still an excellent team with an excellent coach. Denver may realize mid-season that Westbrook doesn’t fit with the franchise’s longer-term goals. Jokic and Murray are still playing in their primes.
Unless Westbrook can figure out how to be more productive for the Nuggets as the season progresses, he might see his time in Denver cut short.
