Is Russell Westbrook to blame for Nuggets cleaning house?

The 2017 MVP was less than enthusiastic in addressing the media. When asked if the locker room needed to play with "a sense of urgency," he said, "I don't know, man. I'm not sure."

When asked if the Nuggets could draw from their past experiences of deep playoff runs, he said, "I don't have the answer for you, man. I wish I did, but unfortunately, I don't."

Westbrook sounded like a man who had checked out, drawing the ire of the Denver media. 

One wonders if Westbrook's nonchalant attitude — after a fourth consecutive loss — further irked Booth and others in the Nuggets' front office. It's worth noting that Malone never once called out Westbrook for being unprofessional and even defended his late-game gaffes against the Timberwolves.

According to multiple insiders, a cold war had been brewing between Malone and the Nuggets' front office for several years, especially after the latter didn't re-sign Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — two key pieces of the 2023 championship-winning squad. 

Was their disagreement over Westbrook the last straw?

FS1's Nick Wright highlighted that Westbrook hasn't been a good omen for head coaches in recent years. To his point, Mike D'Antoni (Rockets), Scott Brooks (Wizards), Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham (Lakers) and now Malone (Nuggets) have lost their jobs on teams with Westbrook. Only Ty Lue (Clippers) has survived the supposed curse.