During the recent summer transfer period in the NBA, Russell Westbrook said goodbye to the LA Clippers and joined the Denver Nuggets as a free agent.
The “triple-double machine” signed a 2-year contract with the 2023 NBA champion, receiving an average salary of nearly 3.4 million USD with a Player Option clause in the second season (2025-26).
In addition to changing his jersey color, Russell Westbrook also changed his jersey number. According to information from the Denver Nuggets, “Russ” will wear the number 4 instead of 0, the number he wore throughout his career before joining the NBA’s highland team.
The decision to give up the number that was familiar to a player with a strong personality like Westbrook surprised many fans. Some rumors appeared and said that Russ was forced to change the number because he could not take the number 0, currently held by young player Christian Braun.
These rumors mentioned that the player born in 2001 did not want to “home” his favorite jersey number to his senior, leading to negative comments directed towards Braun.
So what is the truth of this story?
Russell Westbrook personally took to social media to clarify the information. He not only clarified the story of his jersey number choice but also defended his new teammate who is more than a decade younger than him.
“ Leave our young star alone. CB (Christian Braun – PV) and I have never talked about giving up the number 0 jersey ,” the 35-year-old defender who just arrived in Denver shared.
“I don’t want, don’t mention, and don’t ask for the number 0 jersey because I choose a new jersey number, as a mark of a new beginning for myself,” Westbrook said.
“The new season is coming and everyone is excited, but unfortunately it has also brought with it some false information. Christian Braun and I have no problems at all, on the contrary, we are extremely focused and excited for the upcoming season in the American Highland City.”
Number 0 has always been Russell Westbrook’s first choice since he entered the NBA in 2008. Whether at the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets or LA Clippers, “Russ West” has kept this jersey number almost throughout his 16-year career (the only exception was the 2020-21 season with the Washington Wizards).
However, the NBA’s triple-double machine will be looking to start fresh with the Denver Nuggets, hoping to win his first championship. In Denver, Westbrook will be teamed with another triple-double specialist and reigning MVP – Nikola Jokic.
