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[Saba Sports News] Brian Windhorst didn’t hold back when discussing Russell Westbrook’s fit on the Denver Nuggets. On the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst expressed that Westbrook’s history as a poor three-point shooter would make him reluctant to let Westbrook take any more shots from beyond the arc.
“They [Nuggets] finished 25th in three-pointers made last season before KCP left… I wouldn’t let him shoot any more threes ever again, quite honestly,” he stated. Although this might seem harsh, Westbrook’s struggles from deep are a real concern, especially for a team that already struggled from long range last season.
The Nuggets replaced Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a sharp shooter, with Westbrook, whose three-point shooting has been a known weakness. This could pose a real challenge for the team, given their previous issues from the three-point line.
Last season, KCP shot 40.6% from three, with a career average of 36.9%. In contrast, Westbrook hit just 27.3% last season and holds a career average of 30.4%, with his best at 34.3% in 2016-17—well below modern NBA standards.
It’s a curious move for the Nuggets, considering the Lakers made a similar trade in 2021, swapping KCP for Westbrook. That move backfired, leading to the Lakers missing the playoffs. Could the Nuggets be headed for a similar fate?