NBA Exec on Russell Westbrook's Struggles: Nuggets 2nd Unit Is at His 'Mercy'

Veteran guard Russell Westbrook is off to a rough start in his first season with the Denver Nuggets, struggling in the bench role he embraced last season with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Through four games, the nine-time All-Star is averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 19.8 minutes per contest. He is also shooting just 27.0 percent from the field and 25.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Speaking to ESPN's Tim Bontemps, an anonymous NBA scout put Westbrook's struggles into perspective, saying: "Their second unit is now at Russ' mercy."

Aside from Tuesday's overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets when he scored a season-high 22 points, Westbrook has not had another game with double digits in scoring so far this season.

With Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun, the Nuggets have one of the league's best starting fives, but their bench production has been severely lacking.

Westbrook is the team's leading scorer off the bench, followed by Julian Strawther (7.5 points per game) and Peyton Watson (4.0 points per game).

A lack of bench production has undoubtedly contributed to the Nuggets' uneven start, as they are just 2-2 after winning the NBA championship two seasons ago and reaching the second round of the playoffs last season.

The 35-year-old Westbrook is mostly used to being a starter. After coming off the bench 17 times as a rookie in 2008-09 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he started every game he played in for the next 13 seasons.

After having a down year with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, L.A. transitioned him into a bench role the following season, but he shot just 41.7 percent from the field and was traded during the season, ultimately landing with the Clippers.

Last season was Westbrook's first full year as a bench player, and he largely delivered, averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while also shooting 45.4 percent from the floor.

Westbrook finished an impressive seventh in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting, and the Nuggets undoubtedly signed him with the hope of a similar performance.

However, the one-time NBA MVP and two-time NBA scoring champion is on pace for what would be the worst statistical season of his career by far, and it could force the Nuggets to make some in-season moves in an effort to fortify their bench.