It’s by no means simple to say goodbye to the NBA, particularly if you end up nonetheless a reasonably sturdy and fairly athletic dynamo which has on common two -digit rating numbers in a workforce of fifty victories final yr.
The most effective gamers within the historical past of the sport stays virtually a month in a free company, and at this stage, it’s not clear the way it has led to a successful scenario.
The long run chief of the Russell Westbrook famend temple, which will probably be 37 years lower than a month within the 2025-26 NBA season, can nonetheless be a statistically productive participant within the League.
By means of 75 competitions for the 50-32 Denver Nuggets (36 departures) final season, Westbrook collected on common 13.3 factors on an indirect bar line .449 / .323 / .661, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 interceptions and 0.5 block. He additionally completed seventh in sixth man of the yr.
Westbrook had a depressing eliminatory collection in 2024, his final yr along with his hometown of the Clippers, however recovered to do helpful work on the bench for Denver by means of two playoffs.
Westbrook had a sadly disastrous and a half race with the Los Angeles Lakers, from 2021-233. He was on a most wage, and needed to unload the fairness of vital championships to kind what he thought was “Massive Three” of Westbrook, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. As a substitute, Westbrook was a blatant adjustment alongside James, and the workforce’s wage invoice couldn’t assist any of the depths mandatory so as to add the depth that would have helped.
Nuggets in 2025-26 waste this yr are most likely comfortable to maneuver on – the workforce has utterly reorganized its depth and has far more efficient scorers on its bench.
At this stage, the disadvantages prevail over the benefits with regard to Westbrook sport.
Regardless of his athletics, the 6 -foot 4 -inch veterinarian was by no means an excellent defender. His intuition on this finish of the hardwood just isn’t nice, and as he aged, he has misplaced a little bit pace of the foot. Even at its absolute peak, when he gained the 2017 MVP whereas making a median of 30 factors to Triple-Double (31.6 factors, to be exact), Westbrook was a 3-point shooter barely decrease than the typical.
Now his leap shot fell from a cliff. He’s a shooter of 30.5% in a distant profession on 3.6 triple tries per evening.
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There stays a strong distributor, a good scorer within the paint and an excellent rebounder for its dimension. However he retains the ball an excessive amount of and turned out to be so unreliable in finish -of -game conditions (particularly in the course of the playoffs) that he can not be performed on the finish of the fourth quarter.
It’s extra inheritance than what it might or can not contribute within the subject. At finest, Westbrook might be present in a workforce of marginal playoffs that would use a sure depth of childcare and a management of veterans, however has no younger rear zone views that await within the wings to develop. Milwaukee Bucks correspond to this description, however few different groups haven’t already addressed this downside.
What appears extra seemingly, nonetheless, is {that a} deceived event workforce makes an effort for Westbrook, signing a marquee title on the minimal wage of a veteran.
Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls have essentially the most which means on this regard, particularly if Chicago chooses to go from considered one of his younger proficient guards like Ayo Dosunmu or Coby White and pursues a less expensive possibility.
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At this level, the Westbrook window to contribute to a title workforce has undoubtedly handed. Denver couldn’t do it, and now this window is closed. Westbrook is now a companion, having performed for six groups within the final seven seasons.
He’s nonetheless an NBA caliber participant, however he’s utterly out of phrases, which is a little bit disappointing to say on some of the particular basketball skills of the twenty first century.
The previous All-Star of 9 occasions continues to construct its platform past hardwood. On Monday, he launched a brand new private publication, “Phrase of Westbrook”, deceiving him like a useful resource to speak on basketball, vogue, tradition and extra.
The brand new Phrase of Westbrook web site is right here 🐐
the official home for @ Russwest44The unique publication, the place tradition, vogue and life on and off the sphere all come up in opposition to
constructed on @Beehiivdesigned by @Raredayshq! pic.twitter.com/j5ikclr6qn
– Beehiiv 🐝 (@Beehiiv) July 28, 2025
Enjoying at this stage just isn’t strictly on cash.
All through knowledgeable profession of 17 years, the 6 -foot UCLA product has gained $ 345.9 million solely on the bottom.
Past a litany of approval alternatives and signature sportswear, Westbrook has lengthy been a significant engine and a shaker within the vogue world. He was inventive advertising director of True Faith, a denim model in 2015. The next yr, he launched his personal streetwear model, Honor the Present.
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