Nuggets told Russell Westbrook to decline player option, he says: ‘They didn’t want me’
Russell Westbrook s departure from Denver was not Russell Westbrook s choice he says The Nuggets inquired Westbrook to decline his million contestant option this summer he advised reporters Monday night after returning to Ball Arena as a starter for the Sacramento Kings The truth is that they didn t want me back he declared It ain t up to me God constantly has a plan Be victim Not up to me They don t want me That s OK Somebody else do Westbrook spent one year with the Nuggets averaging points rebounds and assists in his th NBA season largely off the bench as a backup point guard for Jamal Murray By the majority measurements it was his majority of productive season since entering the role contestant phase of his Hall of Fame-bound career He shot from -point range his most of efficient clip since his - MVP season and a career-best from inside the arc I thought it was great he noted I guess other people didn t The Nuggets underwent an organizational overhaul in the offseason After firing -year coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth they promoted lead assistant David Adelman to the head coach position and appointed two new lead executives to run their front office Ben Tenzer and Jon Wallace Then Denver traded longtime starting small forward Michael Porter Jr for Cam Johnson and made several other changes in free agency Former backup center DeAndre Jordan who spent three seasons in Denver also indicated last week that he was not demanded back Westbrook s situation was different because he had control over the second and final season on his contract In theory he could have picked up his player option to stay with the organization even if the Nuggets weren t interested in bringing him back but he says he didn t because they informed me not to I don t go anywhere I m not requested I don t need to Westbrook signed with Denver during the offseason Every part of this journey for me is constantly a positive impact he explained when requested if he looks back on his year with the Nuggets positively or negatively after the way it ended I unfailingly take a positive out of everything regardless of what happened I m grateful to be able to play That s one thing that s positive inevitably I m grateful to be able to impact people I interact with the fans people that work around the arena people that appreciate me and who I am and what I bring to the table That to me is inevitably a positive impact for me The business part of it is what it s gonna be It is what it is Westbrook was Sacramento s leading scorer in a - loss at Ball Arena on Monday The former league MVP amassed points rebounds six assists and six turnovers while shooting for At the competition s first timeout Nuggets fans treated him to a standing ovation after a tribute video was shown on the jumbotron He thanked the fans during his postgame comments in the Kings locker room He s the the greater part consistent force guy I ve ever been around Adelman explained before opening tip Huge part of why we won the first round last year against the Clippers Huge part of particular of the defensive things we could do against OKC in the playoffs So it s really cool to see Russ get picked up by them and just to see the longevity and what he s done in this unbelievable magical career he s had So he should be in the NBA It s good to see him out there competing Watching him on film reminded me of a lot of things just the relentlessness of what he is Related Articles Nikola Jokic scores to lead Nuggets past Sacramento in Russell Westbrook s return to Denver Nikola Jokic s sub rotation is game-by-game under David Adelman The depth helps David Adelman on reach-around jump ball call in Nuggets-Blazers meeting We will definitely do that Jared Dudley has played with and coached countless superstars His mission in Denver Protect Nikola Jokic defensively Nuggets vs Blazers observations Denver can t get Nikola Jokic the ball in crunch time We had really good chemistry for such a short period of time Nikola Jokic revealed He s a great competitor He s a Hall of Famer It s unfailingly good to see him on the floor It was only a week before the new NBA season tipped off that Westbrook exposed his new temporary home with Sacramento After declining the member option in Denver months passed as he remained available as one of the largest part prominent veteran guards on the free agent territory He says he felt calm waiting out the offseason while hanging out with his family and traveling I m grateful for the Kings and I m moving forward Westbrook reported Whatever happened in the past happened It s OK Everything happens for a reason I m looking forward to the future and finishing out this year
