Russell Westbrook was blunt, emotional, and reflective after the Denver Nuggets eliminated the Los Angeles Clippers in a dominant Game 7 victory.
Following Saturday’s 120-101 blowout at Ball Arena, the 36-year-old guard addressed the media with a mix of gratitude, competitive fire, and candid insight.
“As a group, I think we did a good job of being resilient,” Westbrook said postgame. “We just stuck together, never wavered.”
The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 72-40 in the second and third quarters, with Westbrook contributing 16 points off the bench, including a thunderous breakaway dunk that resulted in a technical foul for excessive rim-hanging.
“I just said, ‘Nah, I’m going to just stay up here and try to break the rim,’” he joked. “The moment — just a lot, I think, just for all of us and for the fans. A sign of relief, you know, that we kind of had the game in hand.”
When asked about the Clippers’ defensive strategy of giving him space from outside, Westbrook didn’t hold back.
“They believed that was their best bet of stopping me,” he said. “But one thing that nobody knows is that I work my ass off… If they continue doing it, I’m going to make them pay.”
He confirmed someone had mentioned his shooting percentage for the series: “Damn, that’s solid.”
Westbrook also took pride in mentoring younger teammates, specifically Christian Braun, who played a key defensive role in limiting James Harden to just seven points.
“James is a tough cover,” Westbrook noted. “Christian did a good job of just wearing on him… He’s been doing that all year.”
Reflecting on his place in the league and the emotional weight of postseason basketball, Westbrook emphasized the energy he brings to each arena.
“It’s a blessing,” he said. “God put me in a position to go out and compete at a high level and give this game as much as I can… I’m always grateful to be able to do that.”
Asked about his mindset during in-game moments that feel larger than life — like his steal and assist to Aaron Gordon — he explained his approach simply.
“I just — just a force, man,” Westbrook said. “It may be a turnover… it may be a dunk, maybe a missed three, maybe a made three — it’s going to be everything. So you just take it for how it comes.”
Despite facing his former team, Westbrook said there was no added emotion beyond his usual drive to compete.
“That’s like home for me,” he said of Oklahoma City, where Denver will play its next series. “They know the reason they love me is because I compete at a high level… So that’s all I can do.”
