Russell Westbrook is preparing for his first season with the Nuggets after difficult spells with the Los Angeles Lakers and L.A. Clippers over the last few seasons. However, it would appear he’s found a fan in Denver head coach Mike Malone.
“Russell is a game changer for us,” Malone told The Athletic’s Tony Jones. “He’s a force. You can hear him coming. I just love the intangibles that he brings to us. I think that he’s going to raise the bar, and I think that we’re going to be more competitive because of it.”
To get the best out of Westbrook, you’ve got to give him freedom. He must be allowed to dictate the tempo of play and create chaos in transition. He thrives when he’s trusted and wilts when he’s asked to fulfill a specific role. Then, Malone will have his work cut out to maximize what Westbrook brings to the table while minimizing his heliocentric style of play.
Last season, Westbrook was consigned to a bench role for the Clippers, starting just 11 of his 68 games. He still averaged 11.1 points, five rebounds and 4.5 assists per night on 45.4% shooting from the field. Denver may be open to giving the former MVP a more significant role within their system as the sixth man, especially when Nikola Jokic goes to the bench.
Without Jokic on the court last season, the Nuggets were -8.4 points per 100 possessions worse and averaged +1.9 additional turnovers. Their rebounding numbers also fell by -4.3 in non-Jokic minutes. Having Westbrook plug those gaps could fill a void that has long plagued the Nuggets, with teams often pulling back into a game when the big man catches a breather.
Denver took a risk when adding Westbrook to their roster. His struggles in recent years have changed the narrative surrounding his value in the league and how he can help a team. Yet, the Nuggets needed someone to give them a legitimate offensive punch off the bench. Furthermore, he is a high-level insurance agent for Jamal Murray, who has found it challenging to stay healthy in recent years.
Westbrook may be the missing piece to the puzzle that puts Denver back in the NBA finals. If things work out, and the team and player have high-level seasons, picking him up in free agency will be seen as a masterstroke. Sometimes, you have to take risks to be successful. Betting on a former MVP seems like the calculated gamble contending teams should be taking.
