Russell Westbrook’s identify has been dragged by the mud for the reason that Nuggets fired head coach Mike Malone and GM Calvin Sales space on Tuesday.
In response to The Athletic, Sales space was “dismayed” that Malone continued to play Westbrook over Jalen Pickett and different children on the Nuggets roster, particularly down the stretch of shut video games.
Malone’s insistence on enjoying Westbrook on the finish of video games price the Nuggets dearly on April 1. The veteran guard made a sequence of late-game blunders in opposition to the Timberwolves, which many felt singlehandedly ruined Nikola Jokic’s historic 61-point triple-double.
Within the aftermath of that sport, so much transpired that went beneath the radar of the nationwide/world NBA media. For one, Westbrook refused to speak to reporters after three consecutive video games and eventually broke his silence on Sunday, however solely as a result of he was warned by the league (media commitments are necessary).
The 2017 MVP was lower than enthusiastic in addressing the media. When requested if the locker room wanted to play with “a way of urgency,” he stated, “I do not know, man. I am unsure.”
When requested if the Nuggets might draw from their previous experiences of deep playoff runs, he stated, “I haven’t got the reply for you, man. I want I did, however sadly, I do not.”
Westbrook gave the impression of a person who had checked out, drawing the ire of the Denver media.
One wonders if Westbrook’s nonchalant angle — after a fourth consecutive loss — additional irked Sales space and others within the Nuggets’ entrance workplace. It is price noting that Malone by no means as soon as known as out Westbrook for being unprofessional and even defended his late-game gaffes in opposition to the Timberwolves.
In response to a number of insiders, a cold war had been brewing between Malone and the Nuggets’ entrance workplace for a number of years, particularly after the latter did not re-sign Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — two key items of the 2023 championship-winning squad.
Was their disagreement over Westbrook the final straw?
FS1’s Nick Wright highlighted that Westbrook hasn’t been omen for head coaches in recent times. To his level, Mike D’Antoni (Rockets), Scott Brooks (Wizards), Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham (Lakers) and now Malone (Nuggets) have misplaced their jobs on groups with Westbrook. Solely Ty Lue (Clippers) has survived the supposed curse.
