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Despite a strong season with the Denver Nuggets, nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook remains unsigned in free agency. The 2017 league MVP declined his $3.4 million player option for this upcoming season, entering the open market where reportedly only the Sacramento Kings have interest (via Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report).
Appearing in 75 games for Denver last season, Westbrook posted averages of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists. This was impressive for a 36-year-old reserve guard, but with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reporting locker room tension during Denver’s second-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it’s possible teams are less willing to roll the dice on Westbrook in what would be his 18th NBA season.
Amid his uncertain playing future, Westbrook shared some big personal news this offseason. He and his wife, Nina Westbrook, renewed their vows after 10 years of marriage. The couple did so on a yacht in Italy, something the NBA’s all-time triple-doubles leader detailed in his Word of Westbrook newsletter.
Russell Westbrook Catches His Former NBA Teammate’s Attention
While in Italy, Westbrook shared a post shooting hoops on the yacht. Despite it being shared to his Instagram story, the post was aggregating on X by multiple accounts who racked up millions of impressions. One post from ClutchPoints has over 11 million views.
While he was a bit late, as Westbrook’s post went viral near the end of August, former Los Angeles Lakers guard Patrick Beverley reacted to it on the latest episode of his Pat Bev Podcast.
“Subtle flex,” Beverley said of what Westbrook shared on Instagram. “Like yeah, ‘I’m training and y’all got me [expletive] up.’ Like, subtle flex.”
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Having made more than $345 million in his NBA career just off his contracts, this was indeed a subtle flex from Westbrook. One of the most criticized players of his era, the former UCLA star decided to peel back the curtain on his lavish offseason move this summer — and Beverley took notice.
The Complicated History of Russell Westbrook and Patrick Beverley
While they formed a positive relationship during their time as teammates on the Lakers, Westbrook and Beverley have some contentious history.
Back in 2013, a playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder saw Beverley collide with Westbrook’s knee after the whistle, causing a meniscus tear that sidelined the Thunder guard for the remainder of that postseason. The rivalry reached a peak in 2019 when, after a Rockets’ win over the LA Clippers, Westbrook delivered his memorable “Pat Bev trick y’all” line about Beverley (via ESPN’s Tim MacMahon).
Beverley reflected on those words in 2022, saying in a livestream that Westbrook’s comment had “damaged” his career and shifted how players and coaches viewed him around the league (h/t Bleacher Report).
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