Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Reportedly Called 'Immature' After Aaron Gordon Argument

Denver Nuggets veteran guard Russell Westbrook's fiery personality is usually reserved for his opponents, but his volatility reportedly spilled over to his own team earlier this postseason.

ESPN's Ramona Shelburne detailed an instance when Westbrook engaged in "a heated discussion" with Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon after the team's Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Gordon reportedly "had challenged Westbrook about his attitude," and another player had a simple explanation for why Gordon felt the need to do that.

"He's so immature," the player said of Westbrook.

The Nuggets are tied 2-2 with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semifinals entering Tuesday's Game 5. Westbrook has been a solid performer off the bench in the playoffs for Denver, averaging 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals.

However, Westbrook has been known for his moments of aggressiveness that can sometimes border on recklessness. The 2017 NBA MVP is on his sixth career team, and he recently acknowledged that his style of play isn't for everyone.

"My ability to be a force of nature on the floor is what I pride myself on," Westbrook said after the Nuggets' Game 7 win over the Clippers. "Whatever that looks like—it may be a turnover, a missed shot, a steal, a dunk, a missed three, a made three—it's going to be all of that. You take it for how it comes, and whatever happens, you go with it. I've always been like that."

The Nuggets are certainly hoping that Westbrook will direct his energy toward combating his opponents rather than his own teammates as they try to earn a spot in the NBA Finals.