The Nuggets decided against Russell Westbrook right before they won their first title. This year, they made the bold bet.

Ahead of a pivotal playoff game at the Paycom Center, the dysfunctional state of the Denver Nuggets ' locker room has finally been revealed. One anonymous Nuggets player blamed Russell Westbrook's "immaturity" over the heated locker room altercation that boiled over after Game 2.

Amid this report, Shelburne dropped a Lakers-related nugget. Per the ESPN insider, Denver contemplated signing Westbrook after the Lakers traded him in 2023. She also added that Westbrook nearly played himself out of the NBA rather than accepting a bench role with LA.