The Nuggets decided against Russell Westbrook right before they won their first title. This year, they made the bold bet.

Still, for all his immaturity, Westbrook has been a net-positive for the Nuggets, who managed to survive a seven-game slugfest against the Clippers, and are trailing, 3-2, in their Western Conference semifinal series against Westbrook's original team, the Thunder.

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has put together a strong 2025 NBA postseason. Despite struggling in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook

Russell Westbrook is undeniably one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. At his best, the Denver Nuggets star was an MVP caliber player who is a

VIDEO: Russell Westbrook passionately coaches Nuggets during a timeout, showing energy as Denver grabs the series lead.

On Friday night, the Denver Nuggets played the Oklahoma City Thunder (at home) for Game 3 of their second-round playoff series. The Nuggets won by a score of 1

NBA MVP and 9-time All-Star Russell Westbrook has become the heart of the Denver Nuggets' bench rotation since joining the franchise in the summer of 2024 via free agency. Unfortunately, Denver's recent 112-105 defeat in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday handed the team a deflating 3-2 deficit in the series and pushing the group to the brink of postseason elimination.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at the free-throw line, Westbrook's entrance usurped the MVP chants into a standing ovation. Since being traded in 2019, OKC crowds have always given the former MVP winner an ovation. But doing it in the playoffs rubbed some folks the wrong way.