“It’s a new day, yes it is” — Ever imagined Russell Westbrook as a member of the famous WWE stable The New Day? If you haven’t, this is an opportune time to let your imagination run wild. Why exactly? Because Russ himself is going by that motto before embarking on his journey in Denver.

But with the Nuggets it won’t just be a change in scenery for Westbrook. It is expected to be a new chapter in his NBA legacy. He is leaving the number 0, which Christian Braun already wears. This has only sparked the same old speculations, despite Russell Westbrook fancying a new start.

Controversy seems to follow Westbrook wherever he goes. This time, it was about whether he discussed the jersey issue with Braun. Clearing the air, Westbrook wrote on his IG story (written in all caps), “Let’s please leave our young star alone. CB and I never discussed him passing along the number 0. I didn’t want, inquire about, or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a ‘new’ number. The excitement of the new season has already begun, and unfortunately, I know that means the offload of many false stories. Not today! CB and I are locked in and ready to get things rockin’ in the Mile High City!”

It didn’t take long for Westbrook to be a part of a controversy in his new home and the games are yet to start. That’s been the pattern throughout his career, be it the Lakers, the Clippers, or the OKC.

Looking back at Russell Westbrook’s controversy-stricken career

While discussing Westbrook, people often forget about his epic run in the 2010s that made him the league’s best player in 2017. Despite not winning the big one, Westbrook carved out a Hall of Fame-worthy career for him. But all his on-court brilliance wasn’t enough to make him immune to extensive media scrutiny, leading to an array of controversies throughout the years.

His OKC exit in 2019 came after the franchise’s repeated failure in the playoffs. Westbrook was deemed “selfish” for often excessively controlling the ball, often playing the one-man wrecking crew role. That’s not how you win a championship and the OKC found that out time and again. Russ finally left for the Rockets after the franchise decided to press the reboot button. Even in Houston, he was matched with the same old problem. James Harden was there and the two having a similar style didn’t help much. To no one’s surprise, Westbrook left after only a year to join the Wizard before again finding himself on the move. That led to the much-anticipated Lakers move in 2021.

The 9-time All-Star was far from his best, which led to fans questioning the move. Things went sour after Westbrook was benched during the games. His infamous spat with the then-assistant coach, Phil Handy, pulled the tension in the locker room out in the open. Westbrook was even accused of being a locker room “Vampire” by the LA media, proving the situation was unsalvageable.

His cross-town move to the Clippers also had its fair share of controversies. Westbrook, who had a well-documented history of clashing with fans, added a few more during his time with the Clippers. But now with the Nuggets, Westbrook understands his role as a bench option around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. And judging by his comments on social media, Westbrook is ready to embrace it for a painless stay in Denver.