Russell Westbrook becomes free agent after tumultuous Nuggets ending
NY Post
Russell Westbrook played a role in Nuggets’ chaos and now might be bailing.
The veteran guard declined his player option with the Nuggets for the 2025-26 season and now will enter free agency, according to Marc Stein.
Westbrook had been slated to make $3.47 million had he opted into the contract.
The 36-year-old had a solid season with the Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points across 75 regular-season games, but his role on the team reportedly played a factor in head coach Michael Malone’s stunning firing.
The Nuggets moved on from both Malone and general manager Calvin Booth right before the end of the regular season due to tension between the two festering, among other reasons, with The Athletic reporting Westbrook “might have been the biggest lightning rod.”
Some in the organization reportedly did not approve of what they viewed as preferential treatment for the nine-time All-Star, in addition to the belief that second-year guard Jalen Pickett should play more.
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SAN DIEGO — As you may have seen elsewhere in this newspaper (and also if you haven’t deleted me yet from your social media), I have a book coming out Tuesday called “The Bosses of The Bronx.” Much of it details the 37 years’ worth of antics, winning, losing, winning again and overall mania of George Steinbrenner’s time with the Yankees.
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