The Denver Nuggets have stumbled out of the gate this NBA season, sitting at 0-2 after a home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Their bench play has been particularly concerning, causing early woes in their game strategy.
In related news: Charles Barkley expresses skepticism about the Western Conference this year.
A focal point of scrutiny has been veteran point guard Russell Westbrook, who joined the Nuggets this offseason after parting ways with the Clippers. Expectations were high for him to elevate the bench performance, but he’s struggled significantly, drawing criticism from fans on social media.
This Russell Westbrook last stop. Hell of a career tho
— 99 (@passthechill) October 27, 2024
Russell Westbrook < Nick Westbrook
— Big Bank Polo (@WayneJrTheGreat) October 27, 2024
Impossible to defend Russ play right now. All we can do is pray he gets time to figure this out. I’ve never seen Russell Westbrook not bouncing back before pic.twitter.com/SwA2a4Rb8p
— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) October 27, 2024
Russell Westbrook : 2 points (0-8 shooting, 0-3 from 3 & 2-2 from the FT line), 2 assists, 2 steals & 4 fouls in 19 minutes off the bench pic.twitter.com/G5Tj0oPXs5
— Lee Harvey (@MusikFan4Life) October 27, 2024
Post-game, Clippers guard James Harden commented on Westbrook’s struggles, expressing solidarity as fellow longtime players. “This is his 17th year, this is my 16th year…we’re both inner city LA kids that hopefully when it’s all said and done we’ll be in the Hall of Fame,” Harden mentioned.
Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images
Once one of the most exhilarating players in the league, Westbrook’s recent performances have raised eyebrows and questions regarding his future. Against the Clippers, he scored only two points, along with one rebound and two assists—a continuation of what many see as a troubling decline. With such dismal stats, it’s clear the Nuggets face a pivotal decision about Westbrook’s role moving forward.
Before the season kicked off, Westbrook expressed enthusiasm for joining the Nuggets, claiming previous teams hadn’t utilized his skill set properly. He stated, “To be honest, (my skill-set) was unique; they just didn’t put me in a position to be unique.” With the pressure mounting, the Nuggets need to quickly assess their strategy regarding Westbrook and overall team dynamics.