Many people thought at the beginning of the season Russell Westbrook was “washed”. But he has proved them wrong. Westbrook’s first season with the Nuggets has been a solid start after signing a two-year veteran minimum deal this summer. Spotrac confirms he’s making $3.3 million this year, with a player option for 2025-26. Not too shabby for someone redefining his role in the league.

Coming off the bench as Denver’s sixth man, Westbrook is showing he still has plenty left in the tank. Through 17 games, he’s averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. It’s been fun to watch him set up plays for Nikola Jokić—some of those passes are straight highlight reel material.

Let’s be honest: not everyone thought Russ could thrive in a new role. But here he is, proving doubters wrong and fitting seamlessly into a championship-caliber squad. He has earned praise from Michael Malone for his “energy and leadership” the veteran brings.

These qualities have stood out as major positives for the squad. Not just his coach, but other bosses also admire him, in fact, one of the Los Angeles-based ones! Ty Lue also praised Mr. Triple Double, saying, “Being from LA, a huge part of what we did here the last couple years. Two years ago, he really saved our season. When PG went down, Russ stepped right in and really helped us and willed us to get to the playoffs,” quotes via Joey Linn.

Not his first time receiving praise from Ty Lue, either. After agreeing to a buyout with the Utah Jazz, Westbrook found a new home with the Clippers in February 2023. He quickly returned to a starting role, having spent the previous dreadful season coming off the bench with the Lakers. That fresh start seemed to reignite his game, as he averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists while shooting nearly 49% from the field.

When the Clippers faced off against the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs, Beastbrook stepped up in a big way. With Paul George and Kawhi Leonard battling injuries, the hoopster took control of the offense and showed he still had plenty of fire left in him.

Despite losing the series, Russell Westbrook made sure the LA Clippers fought back in every game. His contributions include a fiery double-double in Game 3, followed by a 37-point haul in Game 4. It reminded us that, even when the odds are stacked against the veteran, Beastbrook can and will rise to the occasion.

So, has 36-year-old Russell Westbrook finally found ‘his place’?

Russell Westbrook is finally finding his groove with the Denver Nuggets after a rocky start. We’ve seen him bounce from team to team, but in Denver, he’s settling into a role that fits his skills. At first, his fit wasn’t so clear, but now he’s thriving in the Nuggets’ pass-first offense. Unlike past backup point guards like Reggie Jackson and Bones Hyland, The Brodie has learned to balance scoring and playmaking, setting up teammates for easy shots.

His game still has its ups and downs—he’ll go off some nights and struggle on the others—but you can always count on him to bring maximum effort. It’s that drive that’s kept him on playoff teams over the years. Playing with superstars like Kevin Durant and LeBron James was great, but now he’s got Nikola Jokic, a selfless playmaker who makes everyone around him better. Westbrook and the Serb are developing great chemistry, with the former stepping into a larger role when Jamal Murray is out.

After a rough start, Russell Westbrook’s numbers are looking better. In his first 11 games, he struggled with his shot, averaging just 10.5 points on 34.6% shooting. Immediately the “washed” comments started flowing in again. But recently, the hoopster’s been averaging 15.2 points on 45.7% shooting, including a massive improvement from three. His assists have also risen, showing he’s becoming more effective in Denver’s offense! Westbrook is finding his place and showing he’s still got a lot to contribute.