Russell Westbrook Already Having Issues With Nuggets Teammates

Russell Westbrook joined the Denver Nuggets this offseason after a tense few years in Los Angeles.

During his stints for L.A.’s two teams Westbrook routinely clashed with teaMMAtes, fans and everyone in-between.

The hope was that an older and wiser Westbrook would chill out and not cause drama on a team that just won an NBA championship two years ago.

But apparently that won’t be the case.

According to Nuggets insider Harrison Wind, there is already some tension brewing within the Nuggets’ locker room.

The root cause? Jersey number issues.

“Hunter Tyson will wear #5 this season after giving #4 to Russell Westbrook,” Wind wrote.

“There was an inquiry by Westbrook into wearing #0, I’m told, but Christian Braun didn’t budge. Tyson gave Westbrook #4 free of charge.”

This may not seem like a big deal on the surface, but the reality of the situation is that this sort of stuff always leads to ill feelings.

Just look at some of the reactions on social media:

And just like that, Braun lost a ton of support

— Matt (@xxxmatentacion) August 26, 2024

Good decision by Christian Braun. Won a title as #0 and has a long future in Denver.

— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) August 26, 2024

Respect CB for saying no to a future HOFer lol

— Aadan (@JMurrayWrld) August 26, 2024

Westbrook has a weird way of creating tension everywhere he goes. It happened with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It happened with the Houston Rockets. It happened with the Washington Wizards. And now it is happening Denver.

Will the Nuggets find a way to make Westbrook work here or will he cause the same sort of acrimony for them that he has caused everywhere else? Time will tell.