Russell Westbrook. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Why did Russell Westbrook choose to leave Nuggets?

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 1:34 PM ET

The new NBA season is just weeks away. Yet, for the first time in 17 years, Russell Westbrook will start the season without a contract. The former MVP opted out of his deal with the Denver Nuggets at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Since then, he's failed to secure a contract with another NBA team.

According to former NBA champion Danny Green, speaking via his "Inside the Green Room" podcast, Westbrook chose to leave the Nuggets because they didn't plan on giving him any playing time in the upcoming season.

“What I heard is that they were not planning on playing him at all this year, even behind certain guys that he should be above,” Green said. "...I feel like Russ is more out of pocket for opting out of his contract when not having one in place already. You still take the guarantee, make them trade you ... You take the guaranteed money unless you know for sure that you have somebody in place.”

Westbrook, 36, had a strong season for the Nuggets. He ended the year having played 75 regular-season games, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. That production saw him finish seventh in Sixth Man of the Year voting for the second consecutive year.

Russell wasn’t going to get ANY minutes on the Nuggets!?@DGreen_14 explains the position veterans have in today’s game. @HarrisonSanford @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/YDtZLCegBG
— Inside The Green Room (@GreenRoomInside) October 9, 2025

Russell Westbrook still has something to offer

While he isn't the athletic do-it-all guard he was in his prime, Westbrook is still an impactful member of a rotation. His experience makes him a viable locker-room leader for rebuilding teams, and his ability to orchestrate an offense in transition makes him a good fit for contenders.

There's no way Westbrook has suffered a drop-off significant enough to disprove everything he showed in Denver last season. Sooner or later, an NBA team will realize it needs a guard and reach out with a short-term offer. Unfortunately for Westbrook, the situation he finds himself in isn't going to get any better. Teams are moving on from ball-dominant guards — especially ones that can't shoot.

Eventually, his phone will stop ringing once and for all. At which point, he can either choose to retire or chase a payday abroad. Fortunately, that situation is at least another year away. And while it must be frustrating, his best bet is to remain patient. Sooner or later, an opportunity will present itself. He's too good to stay on the free-agent market all season, despite what some sections of the media might have told you.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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