Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić knows what his team's weakness is.

The Nuggets fell 102-87 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their season opener on Thursday, and shooting was a major issue. Denver went 35-of-98 from the field and just 7-of-38 from three-point range.

Following the game, Jokić expressed that outside of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray, the team is not replete with great shooters.

"We are not a good shooting team, I think, except probably (Michael Porter Jr.) and Jamal (Murray)," Jokić said, per Sam Amick of The Athletic. "All of us are kind of streaky. Not streaky, you know, but just average shooters."

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said that shooting was a concern of his heading into the season but that the team is not worried at such an early juncture.

"I don't think there's any need for panic," Malone said, per Amick. "Going into the season, shooting is a concern of mine. You know, you lose a guy like KCP, who was a 40 percent 3-point shooter, you know what I mean? And I thought Christian Braun was great tonight. Again, Christian Braun is not going to be KCP, so I think we all have to understand that, which I think we do, and embrace CB for who he is. I thought he played really good defense, competed, ran the floor. …No, there's no panic."

Jokić himself had a strong day, scoring 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting while also adding 13 rebounds and 12 assists.

Murray went 4-of-13 on field goals while Porter Jr. went 5-of-17 and Russell Westbrook was 2-of-10 from the bench.

Russell Westbrook's Denver Nuggets' debut did not go well Thursday as the nine-time All-Star guard shot just 2-of-10 (1-of-6 from three) for six points en route to a 102-87 home loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

OKC outscored Denver by 24 points during Westbrook's 21 minutes. He did stuff the statsheet in other categories, amassing five assists, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

But this was a brutal night for the Denver reserves, which was no match for the Thunder's strong second unit. Of note, Thunder guard Alex Caruso finished a plus-19 despite scoring zero points, and Aaron Wiggins scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting.

Denver's loss goes far further than Westbrook's struggles, of course. OKC guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is supplanting himself in the MVP race, amassing 28 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. And Thunder center Chet Holmgren is making a leap to stardom with 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and two steals.

The Thunder defense also played great, holding Denver to 35.4 percent shooting and 7-of-39 from three.

In addition, all five Nugget starters scored in double digits, but none more than 16 points. Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic earned another triple-double (16 points, 13 assists, 12 rebounds). But the offense just wasn't productive.

Westbrook joined Denver on a two-year, $6.8 million deal last offseason, and he's expected to be a major part of the second unit. The reserves needed a boost after starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope left in free agency for the Orlando Magic and Christian Braun got the call-up to the starting five.

So Westbrook is expected to play a key role on this team. The first night did not go well, but it's a long season, and he and the Nuggets have time to turn this around.

Until then, fans on social media provided their thoughts on Westbrook's performance against his old team.

Thunder finished the 1Q on 21-6 run after Russell Westbrook checked in for his first 6 minutes as a Nugget.

You can’t make it up lol

— Dave Giovanazzi (@SF_DavidGio) October 25, 2024

Once Russell Westbrook hate-watching appears on the timeline, you know the NBA season has officially begun. For once, let that man play in peace. 🙄

— GOWIE (@DaKidGowie) October 25, 2024

Russell Westbrook is -16 and 1-5 shooting with 2 turnovers

Water is wet

They never learn

It is truly hilarious

— Jake Anderson (@jake_anderson44) October 25, 2024

Russ is playing out of control

— Swipa (@SwipaCam) October 25, 2024

I’m seeing people on the TL that had actual expectations for Westbrook. pic.twitter.com/5QVlv9lyZy

— Lion (The System) (@Champ_Lion) October 25, 2024

I really hate that my nuggets picked up Westbrook ngl so hard to watch him play…

— Jmoney (@jamille_johnson) October 25, 2024

Westbrook is a -18 in 11 minutes man….. pic.twitter.com/8kxFfNdi0B

— Yayo 🤷🏽‍♂️ (@_yayeezy) October 25, 2024

Nuggets better bubble wrap their starters after every game this season. My god.

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) October 25, 2024

that westbrook 3 pic.twitter.com/SJia0VUP0j

— Umberto 🏔️⚒️ (@milehighumbi) October 25, 2024

Nuggets’ reign of terror is finally over, THANK YOU Russell Westbrook

— Frank (@_franklinD_) October 25, 2024

The nuggets look terrible

-No bench
-No rim protection
-old
-slow
-no shooters besides MPJ

And the sign Russell Westbrook wtf are they doing

— The Lakers Chip (@Lakerschipp) October 25, 2024

https://twitter.com/domfullyy/status/1849645145416732754

Denver will look to bounce back when it hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

Having proven himself to be a great fit in head coach Michael Malone's system, Aaron Gordon has reportedly committed to the Denver Nuggets after the two sides agreed to a new deal on Monday.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Nuggets will sign Gordon to a four-year, $133 million contract extension with a player option in 2028-29 and a trade kicker.

Charania added more details:

Aaron Gordon’s new deal comes via opting in on his $23 million salary for 2025-26, then three additional years at his maximum salary plus bonuses. Total of $133M. A key member of Denver’s 2023 championship team is now locked in long term. https://t.co/M7x2coMJJm

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2024

It was going to be interesting to see how the Nuggets would navigate being in the midst of a championship window with the new realities of the NBA salary cap. They have lost Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency the past two offseasons after they were so vital to the title run during the 2022-23 season.

Gordon, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. were all extension eligible this offseason. Murray wound up agreeing to a four-year, $208 million deal on Sept. 7 that ties him to the team through the 2028-29 season.

Despite losing some of their depth because of the apron restrictions, the Nuggets are going to go as far as Gordon, Murray, Porter and Nikola Jokić take them.

Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth told reporters during the team's media day on Sept. 26 that he was hopeful to get a deal done with Gordon.

"Hopefully we have some productive talks with his representation and we're able to find a deal that we're both satisfied with," Booth said. "He's been an integral part of what we've done and we'd like to keep him here for a long time."

Gordon would have been able to hit free agency next summer if he turned down his $22.8 million player option.

The 29-year-old has been such a vital player for the Nuggets since being acquired from the Orlando Magic in March 2021. He has increased his offensive efficiency with 14.5 points on 54.2 percent shooting and 2.9 assists per game in 241 starts over the past four seasons.

Malone has also tasked Gordon with defending the best offensive player on teams at times, especially during the playoffs, and he has been able to hold his own. All of these attributes made it an easy call for the Nuggets to give a long-term commitment to Gordon.

The Denver Nuggets reportedly aren't interested in paying forward Aaron Gordon a maximum contract value of four years and $150 million during extension negotiations.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said on Friday's episode of The Hoop Collective that the Nuggets are "hopeful" to sign Gordon to a new deal below the $150 million that he's eligible to receive (h/t RealGM).

Gordon still has two years remaining on his current contract, which includes a $22.8 million player option for the 2025-26 season.

A potential four-year, $150 million contract would be worth $37.5 million per year. If the maximum extension is signed and kicks in after his current deal, Gordon's average annual salary would become the ninth-highest among power forwards in the NBA during the 2026-27 season (via Spotrac).

It's a steep price for Gordon despite his off-ball offensive impact and defensive acumen, especially considering seven of the eight players that would be ranked above him have at least one All-Star appearance.

Despite the reported unwillingness to pay Gordon the maximum amount he's eligible for, there was optimism between both sides regarding an extension during media day on Sept. 26.

"I really love this organization," Gordon said, per NBC Sports' Kurt Helin. "I love the players on this team. I love the coaching staff. So I hope we get it done. It seems like it's moving forward in the right direction, so I'm excited. I'm excited hopefully to be extended and to stay with this organization."

Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth also made it clear that he hopes an agreement is eventually reached.

"Hopefully we have some productive talks with his representation, and we're able to find a deal that we're both satisfied with," Booth said, via Helin. "He's been an integral part of what we've done. And we'd like to keep him here for a long time."

Gordon has played a crucial role alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokić in Denver's frontcourt, as the pair helped the franchise win a championship in 2023. Last season, he averaged 13.9 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 55.6 percent shooting.

Veteran guard Russell Westbrook's vocal leadership style has reportedly been a welcome addition to the Denver Nuggets' locker room leading up to the start of the 2024-25 NBA regular season.

Speaking Wednesday on his Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast (beginning at the 40:40 mark), ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst said the following about the instant impact Westbrook has had on his new team:

"'I've spoken to some folks in Denver. And one of the things that they say about Westbrook is that, you know, their team, their guys are not super vocal leaders. Jamal [Murray] is not afraid to speak up, but that's not really who he is. Obviously, it's not what [Nikola] Jokić is. It's definitely not Michael Porter, [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], you know, not afraid to say stuff, but certainly not like the guy who gets in the middle of the huddle. Westbrook has absolutely been that.

"Like, his energy is completely different. And so regardless what he can bring on the court, which has been the topic for now years on end, probably four or five years of controversy about what Westbrook can get on the court. The folks around the Nuggets are talking about the mood shift and the vocal shift and how he's come in and kind of been a breath of fresh air because they basically had sort of stoic, awesome players and really young guys who didn't say anything because they were sort of along for the ride."

Westbrook, who will turn 36 next month, is entering his first season in Denver after the Nuggets signed him to a two-year, $6.77 million contract on the heels of him getting traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Utah Jazz and then waived during the offseason.

During his 11-year run with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook was a legitimate superstar, earning eight of his nine career All-Star selections, as well as two scoring titles and the 2016-17 NBA MVP Award.

He also became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double over the course of a season more than once, accomplishing the feat three years in a row and four times overall.

Westbrook has bounced around between multiple teams in recent years, playing for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers since 2019.

His production has dipped significantly compared to what he did earlier in his career, including last year when he averaged a career-low 11.1 points and 4.5 assists per game for the Clips in primarily a bench role.

Although Westbrook is nearing the end of his career and will no longer regularly put up huge stats, he could still be a highly valuable player in Denver.

Westbrook has yet to win an NBA championship, so he will undoubtedly be hungry to finish the job in Denver, but he also has a ton of big-game experience already, having appeared in 122 career playoff games.

The Nuggets are just two seasons removed from winning a championship, and although they fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the playoffs last season, they remain a top title contender.

Additionally, backcourt depth is perhaps Denver's biggest weakness, but Westbrook gives head coach Michael Malone a veteran who can provide insurance behind Murray or even play alongside him when need be.

Although Westbrook is a different player than he once was, he is more than capable of being a key supporting cast member on a winning team, and it certainly can't hurt to add a fiery and passionate leader to a team that already knows what it takes to win.

Following a 2023-2024 season in which the Denver Nuggets lost in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Minnesota Timberwolves, one NBA executive believes that Denver is going to be "stuck" this year.

Aside from reigning MVP Nikola Jokić, the talent on the Denver roster seems to be a question mark, particularly Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., according to one executive.

"Denver's second-best player is going backward. Jamal (Murray) hasn't been the same. There is something about Jamal's health and physical capacity right now that concerns me," an NBA exec said according to Sportskeeda's Mark Medina. "Michael Porter is also terribly overrated. He's a one-way player and just a scorer. I also don't think Denver has the assets to get an upgrade."

An anonymous NBA executive believes the Denver Nuggets are ‘stuck’ due to Jamal Murray declining and Michael Porter Jr. being overrated

“Denver’s second-best player is going backward. Jamal [Murray] hasn’t been the same. There is something about Jamal’s health and physical… pic.twitter.com/zBQpUOSqez

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 14, 2024

The No. 14 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Porter Jr. has been inconsistent for the team, missing his entire rookie season due to a back injury and playing in only nine games during the 2021-2022 season.

Starting at small forward last season, Porter Jr. averaged 16.7 points per game—the lowest in three years when playing in 10 or more games—along with 7.0 rebounds while shooting 48 percent from the field. He is currently under a five-year, $179 million contract and is the third highest-paid player on the team.

Mike in last night's ball game

21 PTS / 3 REB / 3 STL pic.twitter.com/60wuibS8RQ

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 14, 2024

The additions of 17-year veteran Russell Westbrook and big man Dario Saric have not seemed to impress the league as the team heads toward opening night of the 2024-2025 season against Oklahoma City at home on Oct. 24.

Following major offseason moves, including the acquisition of 17-year veteran Russell Westbrook and former Golden State Warrior Dario Šarić, Aaron Gordon believes the Denver Nuggets have made significant improvements.

"Love them. Love 'em. Love 'em. Love 'em. We got better," Gordon told Nuggets.com's Matt Brooks. "I hate losing [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] and Jeff Green, but I like our additions."

AG reflects on the offseason moves and the upcoming season  💭

🔗 https://t.co/SsJRLIgYYt pic.twitter.com/usKift38VS

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) October 11, 2024

After two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Westbrook is expected to serve as the backup point guard behind seventh-year Nugget Jamal Murray, while Šarić is projected to back up Jokic at center.

Westbrook appeared in just 89 total games over the last two seasons with the Clippers, averaging 24 minutes and 12.2 points per game. Last season with Golden State, Šarić averaged eight points and 4.4 rebounds with the Warriors as the backup center to Kevon Looney.

Fun Fact:

The current Denver Nuggets roster makes up 10.35% of all triple doubles in NBA history pic.twitter.com/Slh77Ea4Xt

— Jack 🏹📋 (@murray_center27) October 11, 2024

Gordon is set to enter his 11th NBA season, his fifth with the Nuggets, and has come a long way since being the No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft with the Orlando Magic.

The 29-year-old, who won an NBA Championship with the Nuggets, is now focused on helping Denver return to the Finals following their 2023 appearance, especially after the team's significant offseason moves.

4 🤝 15 pic.twitter.com/pLQtVCYWsm

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) September 29, 2024

The fresh-looking Denver Nuggets open their regular season on Oct. 24 against the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.

Nikola Jokić and the Serbia national team had a lot to celebrate after winning bronze in the 2024 Summer Olympics, but falling one win short of the gold medal game was a tough blow to take.

"It was a good match. Probably the biggest defeat of my career," Jokić said of Serbia's semifinal loss to the United States, per Eurohoops. "[We had a] big chance. In the end, they beat us. People from the stands will probably see it as a normal defeat, but for those who played, it was certainly one of the toughest defeats in our careers."

Serbia led 76-63 heading into the fourth quarter against the United States and it held onto a slim two-point advantage inside the final three minutes. But Stephen Curry put the U.S. ahead on a three-pointer with 2:24 remaining and that was pretty much that.

It was a heartbreaking way for the Serbians to lose and the nature of international basketball added to the misery. Jokić and his teammates have to wait another four years for a crack at Olympic gold.

By that point, the three-time NBA MVP will be 33. Bogdan Bogdanović, who averaged 18.3 points in the Paris Games, will be 35 as well. Once the 2028 Summer Olympics roll around, the gap between Serbia and the United States might have widened as the former's best players exit their athletic primes. With Jokić in particular, it could be a long time before Serbia produces such a generational talent again.

It's no wonder the six-time All-Star looks back on this summer in such a meaningful context.

DENVER -- Russell Westbrook turns 36 in November. He's already tipped off 16 NBA campaigns. On Thursday, he sat in front of media on the Denver Nuggets' practice court atop Ball Arena and spoke in a different tone than fans who've only seen his more memeable quotes probably expected.

For most of the last decade and a half, the nine-time All-Star has been on the game's highest-volume scorers and playmakers. He's often been a little spicy with reporters. But in his public introduction as a Nugget, he was deferential, almost overly so.

All three of head coach Michael Malone, general manager Calvin Booth and Russ himself were asked what his on-court role might look like alongside three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and all three talked more about intangible impact.

"Russ was in the gym, and there was just a different energy," Malone said. "Can't really explain it, but I love that he's here."

Booth said: "I think he's gonna push a lot of guys around here."

And Westbrook, when asked directly what he'll do on the court and during games, talked more about leadership than anything else.

"Just compete, play hard," he said when asked about what kind of role he envisions for himself. "Lead. Leadership is probably the one I really enjoy doing most, on and off the floor. Leadership is something that can transcend... On the floor, that's something I will lean into more."

The natural question that follows is: What does that mean for a team that includes Jokić (who Westbrook described as the "best player in the world.")?

The Nuggets center has won three of the last four league MVPs. Last season, by a pretty wide margin, he led the NBA in touches per game. The 2017-18 campaign was the last time the Serb wasn't first on that list. And in that season, it was Westbrook atop the leaderboard.

So how does a team that is so clearly led by one player, at least on the floor, incorporate one who's spent most of his career doing the same for Nuggets opponents?

The first, and probably most obvious answer, is that Westbrook and Jokić will both play plenty of minutes with the other on the bench.

No one explicitly said it, but Westbrook is likely coming into this season as a backup point guard. And Malone only mentioning Christian Braun and Julian Strawther as potential fifth starters mostly confirmed that.

Had this been Westbrook's first run in that role, it might be a little more concerning. He has the fourth-highest career usage percentage in NBA history. He's 32nd of all time in career games started.

But he already experienced the rough part of a transition to a reserve role over his last two seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. There was some initial discomfort, especially when he was moved to the bench by the Lakers in 2022-23, but he seems to know he's now in a different chapter in his career.

Of course, that doesn't mean he and Jokić will never play together. Despite the amount of time both have spent with the ball in their hands, lineups with that duo are inevitable.

And Westbrook noted a previous relationship with the big man and an opportunity to play with him as reasons he signed with Denver.

"He does so many things on the floor that allow other people to be great," Westbrook said. "Us having [a relationship] allows us to mesh immediately."

That may mean more catch-and-shoot opportunities for Westbrook. Given his career 30.4 three-point percentage, that's maybe a little daunting, but Booth talked about his shot looking sharper than expected (offseason, empty gym caveats apply, but still). It probably means more attacking closeouts or rotating defenses than point-of-attack work than Russ is used to.

But again, the UCLA product has already been through the experience of adapting to a smaller role, and he appears eager to lead more than score.

That doesn't mean his game will conform entirely to Jokić, though.

Malone and reserve forward Vlatko Čančar talked about Westbrook potentially increasing the team's pace. The Nuggets were 26th in possessions per game last season. Westbrook himself talked about that, getting to the paint and putting pressure on the rim as traits that he could bring. And he apparently already is.

"He acts like the youngest guy on the court, with his energy and enthusiasm," Michael Porter Jr. said of recent pickup runs with Westbrook.

A lot of that, though perhaps to a lesser degree, was provided by Bruce Brown during the championship-winning 2022-23 campaign. General intensity, too. And throughout 2023-24, though it's difficult to measure, it seemed like the Nuggets were never really able to replace that. Perhaps Westbrook can.

Points, rebounds and assists are important. Westbrook has piled up plenty in his career, and he's the all-time leader in triple-doubles. But competitiveness, leadership and just good old-fashioned fight are critical.

"My job is to be able to push Jamal [Murray] to be the best he can be," Westbrook said. "Play at the highest level he can. He's an unbelievable player and still has room to grow."

Westbrook's less tangible abilities can do that for everyone on the roster, but he'll obviously play too.

In recent years, much has been made of his shot selection, how often he handles the ball and occasional lapses on defense. Nobody's bad habits disappear overnight. And Westbrook won't be perfect in his new, supporting role alongside Jokić and Murray.

But he's expressing the right perspective on his next challenge.

"Whatever my role is, whatever is needed to win games, that's what I'll do."

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon is focused on remaining an ideal frontcourt partner for three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.

"I think Nikola Jokić is probably going to go down as one of the best to ever play the game," Gordon said, per ESPN's Baxter Holmes. "[I'm] working my tail off, working my ass off to maximize his time in the NBA."

The 29-year-old has been with Denver since March 2021, as he was acquired in a trade with the Orlando Magic. While his long-range accuracy has fluctuated, his defensive versatility and off-ball movement have made him an importance piece next to Jokić on both ends of the court.

AARON GORDON WILD PUTBACK DUNK 🤯 pic.twitter.com/VUfeW5useK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 8, 2024

In 241 games played with the Nuggets, Gordon is averaging 14.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.7 steals per game on 54.2/32.1/66.5 shooting splits. He played a crucial role on Denver's championship-winning team in 2023, shooting 60.4 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from behind the arc during the team's five-game NBA Finals victory over the Miami Heat.

The duo of Jokić and Gordon has continued to stay effective despite the Nuggets' second-round playoff exit in 2024. Denver had a plus-10.9 net rating in the 2,001 minutes they shared the floor last season, higher than the team's overall net rating of plus-5.5 (via NBA.com).

With the Nuggets attempting to bounce back and contend for a title once again during the 2024-25 season, Gordon is committed to maximizing the potential of his superstar teammate.