Does Russell Westbrook have a good relationship with the other stars on the Denver Nuggets? After helping his team eliminate his former squad, the Los Angeles Clippers, in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, Westbrook and the Nuggets are locked in a second-round battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder — another of Westbrook’s former homes.
The series is tied 2-2 and could go either way as both teams fight for a spot in the Western Conference Finals. While Westbrook has played solid basketball for Denver, a recent report suggests there may be some tension behind the scenes.
Nuggets Star Allegedly Criticizes Russell Westbrook After Dispute With Aaron Gordon
Ramona Shelburne, a senior writer at ESPN, recently shared a story involving Westbrook and teammate Aaron Gordon. According to Shelburne, an anonymous Nuggets player revealed that there was a heated locker room exchange after the team’s Game 2 loss in the first round against the Clippers.
“Minutes after the Nuggets lost Game 2 of their first-round series against the Clippers, Adelman had a problem. While he’d been at the postgame lectern, there’d been a heated discussion between Westbrook and Gordon in the locker room, multiple sources told ESPN. Gordon had challenged Westbrook about his attitude. Outside the locker room, one player relayed why Gordon might’ve done so. ‘He’s so immature,’ he said of Westbrook.”
An anonymous player on the Denver Nuggets says Russell Westbrook is ‘immature,’ per @ramonashelburne
“Minutes after the Nuggets lost Game 2 of their first-round series against the Clippers, Adelman had a problem. While he'd been at the postgame lectern, there'd been a heated… pic.twitter.com/lBegNvG36A
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The report quickly drew pushback from fans, many of whom pointed out that Gordon has spoken highly of Westbrook in the past. Gordon has even gone on record saying he hopes to see Westbrook win a championship before he retires.
Given both players’ intense, outspoken personalities, it’s not hard to imagine them having a heated moment after a tough playoff loss. However, some fans are skeptical of the anonymous player’s comment, especially since the quote included speculation about Gordon’s motivation.
While anonymity can allow sources to speak freely, it also opens the door to unverifiable claims. Without direct confirmation from Gordon, Westbrook, or the team, stories like this remain just that—stories.
There’s no reason to assume Shelburne fabricated anything, but the report has little weight without evidence or attribution. The only way to clarify the situation would be to hear directly from Gordon or Westbrook. Until then, Nuggets fans will hope the noise doesn’t affect the team’s chemistry heading into Game 5.
If the Nuggets can find a way to advance past the Thunder and win two more rounds, they’ll add their second championship in three years.