"I feel like all those things weighed on Russ" - Michael Porter Jr. thinks going from MVP to bench player took a toll on Russell Westbrook

It has been tough to witness Russel Westbrook‘s fall from grace. Every basketball fan’s heart aches when one realizes that the man coming off the bench now as a backup point guard was once an explosive triple-double monster that made every arena he plays in erupt with his thunderous dunks.

But everyone — including Westbrook — knows those days are over. Russ has gone from being a franchise player of the Oklahoma City Thunder to being a journeyman whose star quality gradually dwindled as he jumped from one team to another.

Westbrook’s former Denver Nuggets teammate, Michael Porter Jr., could not help but feel for him, as Russ was someone MPJ used to look up to when he was in his peak form.

“It would be hard for any player to go from being the MVP of the NBA to then taking on a role where you’re coming off the bench,” he said on The Justin Laboy Show. “I feel like all those things weighed on Russ.”

From MVP to NBA journeyman

After leaving OKC on good terms, Westbrook eventually found his way to the Houston Rockets (2019-2020) and Washington Wizards (2020-2021). Russell was a decent starting point guard for both teams, averaging solid numbers and helping them reach the playoffs.

That was until he came to Los Angeles where his descent began. Westbrook’s stay with the Los Angeles Lakers was unproductive, marred by injuries and lackluster performances, with the nickname “Westbrick” dominating social media platforms due to his off-shooting nights.

Russ then served as an off-the-bench sparkplug for the Los Angeles Clippers. However, he was waived later on before Denver picked him up in July 2024, with the blessing of three-time MVP and franchise superstar Nikola Jokic.

“For Russ to go from MVP to then be told he’s going to play this type of role and to then go to these different teams and get disrespected by so many people,” he said. “When he went to L.A., he was disrespected like crazy.”

MPJ defends Russ

Playing with him, Porter Jr. clearly saw why Jokic wanted Westbrook on the team. Russ posted 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in the regular season and helped the Nuggets reach the Western Semifinals, where they faltered to OKC.

“When he came over with us— he came in with some great energy. He really bought into the system. He was cheering people on,” said Porter Jr., who is now with the Brooklyn Nets.

Although he acknowledged that Westbrook had inconsistent stretches during the long season, Mike said he respects Russ for the grit and grind he showed at 36 years old.

“But it’s an 82-game season, so obviously there’s going to be highs and lows,” he said. “But me and Russ had a good relationship. I looked up to Russ in a lot of ways.”

Westbrook is now a free agent after he reportedly declined his $3.4 million player option for the 2025-26 NBA season. Fans are speculating on the Houston Rockets’ potential interest in reuniting with their former point guard, especially with starting point guard Fred VanVleet being ruled out for the upcoming season due to an ACL tear.

However, Westbrook has yet to confirm his decision. At this stage of his career, he will have to settle for whatever a team offers him.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

“I feel like all those things weighed on Russ” – Michael Porter Jr. thinks going from MVP to bench player took a toll on Russell Westbrook

Tags: