Russell Westbrook was already a hero to most of the younger Nuggets gamers earlier than he joined the group in free company this summer season, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Publish. Whereas they had been studying to play the sport, Westbrook was a star in Oklahoma Metropolis, displaying an depth and competitiveness that was straightforward to admire.
“He was simply an enormous inspiration for me from the eagerness he performs with,” Peyton Watson stated, “being himself unapologetically, and simply being any individual who I really feel like at all times leaves it on the market on the ground. … Way back to I can keep in mind watching basketball, actually, I’ve been watching the power and the eagerness that he performed with, understanding that he got here from rattling close to down the road from the place I’m from (in Lengthy Seaside, California).”
Christian Braun additionally cites Westbrook as an vital affect on his basketball improvement. Westbrook has already proven himself to be an excellent teammate to Braun on one vital concern, based on Durando, agreeing to take 4 as his uniform quantity as an alternative of asking for Braun’s 0 and imploring followers to “depart our younger star alone.”
“Downhill. Athletic. Robust. Imply. In-your-face,” Braun says of Westbrook’s taking part in model. “… These are the kind of guys I beloved, and I realized from.”
There’s extra from Denver:
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN declined to provide a grade to Jamal Murray‘s new four-year max extension, however he speculates that the Nuggets should have encouraging details about Murray’s well being to comply with the deal. The contract is projected to be price practically $208MM and can run by means of the 2028/29 season. Pelton notes that it eliminates worries about Murray leaving in free company subsequent summer season and states that will probably be a smart funding if he continues to provide on the degree he did final season.
- After finalizing the take care of Murray, the following step must be a long-term contract for Aaron Gordon, contends Sean Keeler of The Denver Publish. Keeler sees Gordon as an ideal complement to Murray and Nikola Jokic, offering much-needed athleticism and a powerful defensive presence in addition to a excessive basketball IQ. Gordon has a $22.8MM participant possibility for the 2025/26 season, and Keeler advises the Nuggets to work out an extension earlier than he has the prospect to check free company.
- Denver’s media day may very well be among the many most fascinating within the league, Marc Stein states in his newest Substack article (subscriber solely). Along with Murray’s extension, subjects ought to embrace how a lot assist Westbrook can present at this level in his profession and coach Michael Malone’s rumored dissatisfaction with the entrance workplace after shedding Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free company in consecutive summers.
