Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook won’t exercise his $3.47MM player option for the 2025/26 season, league sources tell Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
Declining that option will put Westbrook on track to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. He would have the opportunity at that time to either re-sign with Denver or join a new team.
Westbrook, 36, played a significant role for the Nuggets after signing with the team as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes per game across 75 appearances (36 starts) during the regular season, with a .449/.323/.661 shooting line. He also contributed 11.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 3.7 RPG in 13 playoff contests (24.1 MPG).
A former MVP and a nine-time All-Star, Westbrook is a polarizing player for a future Hall of Famer. He was lauded by coaches and teammates in Denver this past season for his energy, competitiveness, and leadership, and remains an excellent play-maker and an elite rebounder at his position. However, he’s also an inefficient scorer whose high-energy style often results in out-of-control plays and a high turnover rate.
Despite his flaws, Westbrook has been a great value on minimum-salary contracts in recent years after earning the maximum for much of his playing career. Since being bought out by the Jazz in 2023, he has opted for situations with the Clippers and Nuggets where he can play a major role on a team with championship aspirations. If money were more of a priority, Westbrook could likely have done better than the veteran’s minimum on the open market over the last couple seasons.
His decision to decline his option doesn’t come as a major surprise, since his $3,468,960 option was based on a 5% raise on this past season’s minimum salary. With the salary cap expected to rise by 10%, Westbrook’s new minimum projects to be $3,634,153, so even if he wants to remain with the Nuggets, opting out to sign a new contract makes sense.
It’s also worth noting that if Westbrook signs a one-year minimum-salary deal with Denver or another team, his cap hit for 2025/26 would be just $2,296,274. If he signs another one-plus-one contract that includes a second-year option, his cap charge would be equivalent to his actual salary, whether or not he earns the minimum.
Westbrook is currently recovering from a procedure to repair multiple ligament tears in his right hand.
Not sure how many contenders are going to have interest. Russ will always play hard, wouldn’t hate if he somehow got back to OKC and ended career there. Doubt it though.
highly doubt he comes back here.
he’d play 3 min a game at best with Topic coming back next year.
he turned down that option cause he thinks he can get
much more than 3 million a year and okc doesn’t need him.
(now if he wants to chase a ring and be a bench cheerleader at minimum salary….fine…bring Brody back)
Bucks if Giannis stays, could get more than a min contract too, they have the Bi-annual at 5.1M.
This would be a solid move for him in regard to playing time and a quality team.
Russ to Milwaukee makes a lot of sense.
He’s ageing. Doesn’t rebound like he used to. Some of the finishes at the rim he was making before he’s missing now, or avoids them.
I think his FG shooting this season looks maybe even a bit better than usual, likely because he was much more selective with the shots, and was taking 3s only from certain spots. But his FT accuracy regressed compared to when he was in his 20s. He’s a 65% FT shooter now. So in the end, he’s still a below-average finisher, as he has always been. Still the same turnover machine.
Hard to get a place for a veteran like that. Older guys who stay in the league manage that due to good efficiency and a lean game: Batum, Brook Lopez, Conley, Horford.
Seems like he knows he’ll get another 2 year deal this summer.
I don’t think he would’ve opted out unless he had that assurance.
But as the others mentioned, I’m not sure who that team is? Perhaps Denver again?
He is guaranteed 200k more by opting out. His option was worth 3.4m and the league min next year is projected at 3.6. Absolutely no reason to opt in
So even if he gets just a one year deal, by opting out he’ll still be ahead next year. Makes sense, thank you.
He has options. You know what you’re getting with Russ at the end of the day. All gas, no brakes. Instant energy, turnover machine, exciting plays, low efficient shooting, great teammate, occasional hot game with triple-double.
Teams where he could fit:
-Hawks
-Knicks
-Grizzlies
-Kings
-Timberwolves
If there was a “fun player” metric, russ is near top
Russ is the most overrated player of all time who will never a win a title in this league. Any team he joins is cursed. Same goes for Harden, Embiid and CP3.
Right, but he is very entertaining to watch. I honestly can’t say that about Harden, Embiid, or CP3 (you would have to pay me to watch them play). The NBA is a business at the end of the day. There’s still a market for his talents.
You call smashing the ball into the lower corner of the backboard on what should be a normal layup “entertaining”?? I just like winning basketball, guess we disagree here.
Yes. Even Westbrooks’ lowlights are entertaining lol
Fair enough, to each their own lol
“i just like bandwaggon basketball” fixed this for you Davey J
Knicks? Nah. We can’t afford another poor-shooting non-center. I like Minny and Memphis too. Kings are irrelevant as always
He doesn’t care about the cash. He’s made his money.
Love to have Russ on Knicks. Bench needs him. And the fans would love and support him. To Help Knicks get to Finals would be huge. And a great way to end his career.
Now that I think about it, he could work as Hart’s backup. They’re both high-energy, selfless playmakers, elite rebounders for their size, average but versatile defenders, and can’t shoot. We could have a Tasmanian devil in the game for 48 minutes. Starting Hart would require sitting Mitch (or Bridges, if the new coach has the stones) but I kinda like this.
Miami would be perfect for him.
Nuggets making the Finals next year, the curse is lifted.
No real news or suprise. This is what’s always done with 1+ 1/po deals considered below market. It’s intended by both parties as a 1 year deal, with the po giving the guy insurance against an injury. Absent an injury or his game falling off the table, it’s assumed he’ll decline the option. Then, if the guy wants to stay, he can do a new 1 + 1/po deal. RW is (I believe) now entitled to EBRs on his new contract, so if DEN wants to offer more, they can.