Aaron Gordon confronted Russell Westbrook about his attitude during a heated locker room discussion following the Denver Nuggets' Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in their first-round playoff series, multiple sources told ESPN.
The confrontation occurred while interim head coach David Adelman was at the postgame podium. One player characterized Westbrook's behavior bluntly, telling ESPN, "He's so immature."
Nuggets' Long Pursuit of Westbrook
The Nuggets had coveted Westbrook for years before signing him as a free agent this offseason, sources told ESPN. Team president Josh Kroenke believed their quiet group of players needed "some spice."
Denver initially considered signing Westbrook after the Lakers traded him to Utah in February 2023, but ultimately decided against it. Sources said the front office worried he would "destabilize the locker room and undercut the confidence of point guard Jamal Murray."
That decision proved wise as the Nuggets went on to win their first championship months later. However, after failing to defend their title last season and losing key role players to free agency, the franchise reconsidered their stance with Jokic entering his age-30 season.
Team Dynamic Tested During Playoff Run
The altercation appeared to mark a turning point for the struggling Nuggets, who had been dealing with internal dysfunction following the late-season firings of head coach Mike Malone and general manager Calvin Booth.
"The great thing about this team is we're not afraid to talk honestly with each other," one player told ESPN regarding the Game 2 argument, "and hold each other accountable."
Following the locker room clash, Denver won three of their next four games to eliminate the Clippers, including a decisive Game 7 victory where Westbrook delivered 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals.
Westbrook acknowledged the team's growth after their subsequent Game 1 victory against Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals: "There were some ups and downs, but we've done a good job of honing in on mistakes and then owning them. Addressing them and communicating."
Westbrook nearly played himself out of the league by refusing to change or compromise.
"I can't see another team doing it," one team source said of the Nuggets' signing Westbrook, after his endings with his previous four teams, "but I never thought we would do it."
