For the second time this season, Ramona Shelburne has published a strong report about the Denver Nuggets on the morning of one of their big games, this time it’s focused on Russell Westbrook.

The first time was a bombshell about now-fired general manager Calvin and head coach Michael Malone’s drama before the Nuggets faced the Wolves for the first time in the regular season after getting knocked out of the playoffs by them last spring. Denver lost that game, and the report had so many ripple effects that it likely impacted each man’s eventual late-season firing.

On Tuesday, Shelburne published a story about Westbrook running hot and the pros and cons of him being in Denver. The former MVP was signed to a minimum contract ahead of the season on the suggestion of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Shelburne shares that Westbrook is a man the Nuggets have wanted for so long that he actually was nearly on their championship roster.

Westbrook has been additive to the Nuggets in the playoffs on the floor, scoring 134 points thus far, which is nearly as many as the Nuggets’ entire bench outside of Bruce Brown (163) during the 2023 championship run, which was double the amount of games that Russ has played thus far. He’s also brought a defensive energy and a spice that even Josh Kroenke said he craved.

But then comes the stuff not on the hardwood that has irked Nuggets Nation.

After a first-round loss in which Westbrook noticeably pouted when he was taken out at the end of the game, one player told ESPN, “It’s crazy. [He’s] changed the entire vibe and spirit of our team.”

But after another game, an assistant told ESPN, “Russ was competing his ass off. I can’t believe he’s still doing this in Year 17. I wish we had 10 of him.’”

MINUTES AFTER THE Nuggets lost Game 2 of their first-round series against the Clippers, Adelman had a problem.

While he’d been at the postgame lectern, there’d been a heated discussion between Westbrook and Gordon in the locker room, multiple sources told ESPN. Gordon had challenged Westbrook about his attitude.

Outside the locker room, one player relayed why Gordon might’ve done so.

“He’s so immature,” he said of Westbrook.

The pros in cons of Westbrook are told in that very short snippet, though any issues with Aaron Gordon may have been solved given how much the forward has publicly talked up the guard since this supposed moment after Game 2.

That left Nina Westbrook, Russell’s wife, to share on Instagram the story with the following message:

“Dirty work Romona. How could you share and spread so many lies randomly, for no reason, and with so much conviction. You’re using his name for clickbait during the playoff’s which is ridiculous. Trust me, I know the facts about literally everything. Normally, I let you guys tell your silly lies in peace. Enough already. Stop with the lies.”

It does seem a little touchy to use anonymous sources on a story like this. Former Nugget and Westbrook teammate Austin Rivers spoke out about the comment on Tuesday, denying that Westbrook is immature. But his wife’s denial, calling the story “ridiculous…clickbait,” containing “silly lies,” is very notable.

Westbrook runs hot, as everyone knows. His open-armed welcome to both of his hometown teams in Los Angeles ended poorly. In fact, ESPN even reported that Westbrook was a main flash point of the feud between Malone and Booth. Most teams would not put up with this level of drama, true or not, on a player making so little money, but the Nuggets desperately need Westbrook’s contributions — they’re 5-2 in these playoffs when he’s on the floor for 25 or more minutes.

The Nuggets are in OKC for Game 5 on Tuesday night with the series tied at 2-2, as Westbrook and crew will try to take a huge game off on his old team, the Thunder.

Russell Westbrooks Wife (Nina Westbrook) speaks out against the ESPN article published by Ramona Shelburne. pic.twitter.com/efTxFfxn6Q

— Jokic Burner (Future 2024/25 NBA Champions) (@MikesMajorTakes) May 13, 2025