BREAKING NEWS: Russell Westbrook Finally offers response amid contract situation with Nuggets. Whether He is leaving the Club or Not. His decision will definitely shock you
Following their 125-93 blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Sunday’s Game 7, the Denver Nuggets now turn their attention to the offseason. One big question that will need to be answered is if point guard Russell Westbrook will be back with the team in 2025, as he has the option to chase a new deal should he choose.
The former NBA MVP signed a two-year, $6.8 million deal with Denver last offseason, and the second year is a player option that he will have to either pick up or decline. If Westbrook picks up the option, he would make $3,468,960 in 2025-26, per Spotrac, but the triple-double king could opt for a change of scenery.
Following the Nuggets’ elimination in the Western Conference semifinals, Westbrook was asked by Denver Gazette reporter Vinny Benedetto if he had made a decision on his player option. The 36-year-old apparently looked at his watch, then looked at Benedetto and asked what he was wearing tomorrow. The reporter said he didn’t know. Westbrook replied, “Exactly,” and then walked off.
It’s safe to say Westbrook hasn’t made a decision on his future.
In his first season with Denver, Westbrook shot 44.9% from the field while averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 turnovers per game. However, Westbrook struggled this postseason, shooting 39.1% from the floor while averaging 11.7 points per game. He also recorded 34 assists compared to 30 turnovers. In the elimination game vs. his former team, Westbrook shot 2 of 7 from the field for six points, five rebounds and two assists while also recording an abysmal -34 plus/minus. It tied his worst plus-minus in a playoff game.
Russell Westbrook’s decision on contract, retirement gets most confusing update
The Denver Gazette’s beat writer, Vinny Benedetto, was brave enough to go up to Westbrook in the locker room after their Game 7 loss to ask Westbrook about his future.
Here’s how Benedetto explained the exchange on X:
“Tried to get Russell Westbrook in the locker room to see he had made a decision on his player option for next season,” Benedetto wrote. “He looked at his watch and asked what I was wearing tomorrow. When I said I didn’t know, he said ‘exactly’ and walked off. Nuggets aren’t doing exit interviews.
That’s quite amusing, on the one hand.
On the other, it’s a bit of a rude way to treat a reporter.
Either way, it doesn’t clear up anything about what Russ might do next.
Westbrook is coming off one of the worst playoff series in NBA history. He was an astonishing minus-92 over the seven games against the Thunder with more turnovers than assists, a 34% FG and a 21% from 3.
It seems like if Westbrook wants to keep playing and didn’t mind his time in Denver, it might be wise to accept his player option. There may not be a ton of teams that would want to sign him in free agency.
If Westbrook wants to retire, it’d be a depressing way to go out for an all-time great. He was minus-34 in Game 7.
It sounds like Russ will let the basketball world know what he’s going to do on his own timeline.
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