Russell Westbrook Praised by Nuggets Insiders After Contract: 'Breath of Fresh Air'

Veteran guard Russell Westbrook's vocal leadership style has reportedly been a welcome addition to the Denver Nuggets' locker room leading up to the start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

Speaking Wednesday on his Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 40:40 mark), ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the following about the instant impact Westbrook has had on his new team:

"'I've spoken to some folks in Denver. And one of the things that they say about Westbrook is that, you know, their team, their guys are not super vocal leaders. Jamal [Murray] is not afraid to speak up, but that's not really who he is. Obviously, it's not what [Nikola] Jokić is. It's definitely not Michael Porter, [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], you know, not afraid to say stuff, but certainly not like the guy who gets in the middle of the huddle. Westbrook has absolutely been that.

"Like, his energy is completely different. And so regardless what he can bring on the court, which has been the topic for now years on end, probably four or five years of controversy about what Westbrook can get on the court. The folks around the Nuggets are talking about the mood shift and the vocal shift and how he's come in and kind of been a breath of fresh air because they basically had sort of stoic, awesome players and really young guys who didn't say anything because they were sort of along for the ride."

Westbrook, who will turn 36 next month, is entering his first season in Denver after the Nuggets signed him to a two-year, $6.77 million contract on the heels of him getting traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Utah Jazz and then waived during the offseason.

During his 11-year run with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook was a legitimate superstar, earning eight of his nine career All-Star selections, as well as two scoring titles and the 2016-17 NBA MVP Award.

He also became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of a season more than once, accomplishing the feat three years in a row and four times overall.

Westbrook has bounced around between multiple teams in recent years, playing for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers since 2019.

His production has dipped significantly compared to what he did earlier in his career, including last year when he averaged a career-low 11.1 points and 4.5 assists per game for the Clips in primarily a bench role.

Although Westbrook is nearing the end of his career and will no longer regularly put up huge stats, he could still be a highly valuable player in Denver.

Westbrook has yet to win an NBA championship, so he will undoubtedly be hungry to finish the job in Denver, but he also has a ton of big-game experience already, having appeared in 122 career playoff games.

The Nuggets are just two seasons removed from winning a championship, and although they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs last season, they remain a top title contender.

Additionally, backcourt depth is perhaps Denver's biggest weakness, but Westbrook gives head coach Michael Malone a veteran who can provide insurance behind Murray or even play alongside him when need be.

Although Westbrook is a different player than he once was, he is more than capable of being a key supporting cast member on a winning team, and it certainly can't hurt to add a fiery and passionate leader to a team that already knows what it takes to win.