All he is saying is give Russ a chance. Russell Westbrook doesn’t sound like a good idea for the Nuggets, Chauncey Billups assured me.
He sounds like a great one.
“(Westbrook) is going to bring some toughness and a mentality to that team that I think will be welcomed,” Billups said of the new Nugget guard as we huddled at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center just before the annual Porter-Billups Leadership Academy Gala. “So I’m happy for him. And I think he’s going to make that team better.”
He sure as heck won’t make them boring. Westbrook is a sharknado in sneakers, bedlam on the basketball court. The Nuggets’ star offseason addition, now 35 years young, just released a shoe called “Own The Chaos.”
Full disclosure: When it comes to Mr. Triple Double, Mr. Big Shot’s a big fan. But can Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray co-exist with chaos, let alone “own” it?
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be a good fit,” said Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers coach and former George Washington High and CU Buffs great.
“Again, me being a coach and not only being a coach, but having played, you always need guys like that on your team. You need guys that, no matter what’s going on, they’re going to fight. And they’re going to fight like hell the entire game until the final buzzer goes off. And trust me, most teams don’t have guys like that.
“So I think he’s going to be good. No matter where he’s at in his career, he is who he is. He’s one of the most accomplished players in the league.”
True. He’s also got more baggage than Level 5 at DIA. About 18 months ago, an ESPN reporter went on national TV and referred to Westbrook, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Nuggets last week, as a “locker room vampire.” That bites.
As legends go, Beastbrook ain’t for everybody. But he’s for The Joker, which is the only vote that really matters. He’ll take some ball-handling heat off of Murray, which should help. He could give the Nuggets’ second unit an identity other than “The Walking Dead,” which can’t hurt. Especially with Christian Braun expected to elevate from sixth or seventh man to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s starting off-guard slot.
“Russ does help that (depth),” Billups said. “He helps bring some of those things.
“Obviously, (he and KCP are) totally different players. But, yeah, losing KCP was — I’m happy and proud of him for getting to capitalize (financially) on the great years that he had here — but it’s a substantial loss.”
For Westbrook to be a win, he’s got to help a young bench grow up in a hurry in the heat of a championship window. On the plus side, Russ is already working behind the scenes as a mentor, teacher and big brother to Nuggets prodigy Peyton Watson, his fellow former UCLA Bruin.
Watching the two of them fly around, alter shots and generally get in people’s faces has the potential to be all kinds of fun. Watching the two of them take turns firing from long range?
Not so much.
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“I loved (the move). I think it’s going to be awesome,” Billups said. “I think the competitive fire that (Westbrook) plays with — not every night, but every play — you can’t say that about most people. That’s a real gift.”
Billups then reminded me of an old, wise hoops proverb. You know what goes well with Jokic?
Everything. Even vampires.
“(Westbrook) takes a lot of criticism because he is such an alpha,” Mr. Big Shot said with a grin. “As a fan, if he’s not on your team, you love to hate him. Because you’re like, ‘That dude is so damn good.’”
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