Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has a $3.5 million player option he can exercise this offseason. However, if he wants to secure a new lucrative deal since he is not getting any younger, he may have to leave the NBA to get it.
According to European basketball reporter Nemanja Zoric, Hapoel Tel Aviv could offer Westbrook a huge payday if the one-time NBA MVP does the unthinkable.
“Hapoel Tel Aviv has made initial contact with former NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook. I’m told the Eurocup champions are planning to make him an offer with a salary never seen before in European basketball,” Zoric posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
In his first full season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals on 44.9 percent shooting from the field across 75 regular season appearances (36 starts), serving as the backup point guard behind Jamal Murray.
Denver Nuggets fans react to Russell Westbrook’s potential NBA exit
Most Denver Nuggets fans seem to want to keep Russell Westbrook around, despite his erratic play. They believe that the nine-time NBA All-Star still has a lot left in his tank.
“Deserves a farewell tour in the nba idc what anyone says he had one of the highest peaks ever,” one fan chimed in on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“I hope Russell Westbrook exercises his player option and stays with the Nuggets for at least one more season. You are not getting that kind of production from a sub-mini-MLE guy anywhere else.”
“Nah! We will keep Russ in Denver thank you very much.”
I will be very upset if Russell Westbrook is not on this team in October!” another fan added.
