DENVER — Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook has cleared the air about a rumored conflict with teammate Christian Braun over his jersey number next season.
Westbrook, who are the Nuggets signed following a trade this summerwore the number 0 jersey for four of the five NBA teams he played for. That number already belonged to teammate Christian Braun.
Some social media posts went viral this week claiming that Westbrook asked Braun for the number 0 and Braun declined.
Westbrook dispelled those rumors Tuesday with an Instagram post.
“[Braun] “I never discussed the possibility of him passing on the number 0,” his message read. “I did not want, ask for or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a ‘new’ number.”
“The excitement of the new season has already begun, and unfortunately, I know that means the rejection of many false stories.”
Westbrook concluded his message by saying that he and Braun were “locked in” as teammates in Denver.
Instagram // @russwest44
The 35-year-old, who is in his 12th year, will wear No. 4 with the Nuggets — the same number he wore during his lone season with the Washington Wizards in 2020-21.
He signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with Denver this offseason after being traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Utah Jazz and then released by Utah.
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