Nuggets Assistant: We hope there are 10 Westbrooks

ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne reported that the Nuggets wanted to get Westbrook a few years ago. When the Lakers traded Westbrook to the Jazz in 2023, the Nuggets discussed the possibility of signing him. But the Nuggets did not do it, and they were worried that Westbrook might make the locker room unstable, which would undermine Jamal Murray's confidence.

Several sources said that former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone was too indulged in Westbrook on and off the court, and gave him Jokic and Murray treatment, which made everyone feel uncomfortable. This is also the reason why Westbrook did not participate when the Nuggets fired Carl Malone and Calvin Booth and let Adelman take over the interim head coach.

Marron allowed Westbrook to stay in Los Angeles for his family on the off day, and even developed to the point where the Nuggets hesitated whether to ask him to return to Denver to meet the team, or to go directly to Sacramento the next day, and finally Westbrook met with the team in Sacramento the next day. In the first game coached by Adelman, Westbrook missed a three-pointer, a close jump shot and a layup in the fourth quarter. Adelman asked sophomore point guard Pickett to replace Westbrook and allowed Pickett to play the remaining critical moments, helping the Nuggets end their four-game losing streak. Westbrook played the lowest 17 minutes of the season. Adelman made his attitude.

And in a loss game in the first round, Westbrook was replaced at the last moment. One player said: "It's so crazy, he changed his whole mental state and changed the mental state of our team." After another game, an assistant coach said: "Russell is too hard to believe he still fought so hard in season 17. I wish we had 10 him."