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NBA star Russell Westbrook has been forced to clear the air after wearing a new jersey number.
Westbrook signed with the Denver Nuggets this offseason after being traded and released.
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Westbrook arrived to the Nuggets only to find that his iconic jersey No. 0 was taken by Christian Braun.
The 35-year-old Westbrook has worn the No. 0 for every season except one in his career, only wearing the No. 4 for one season with the Washington Wizards in the 2020-21 season.
He also wore No. 0 in college at UCLA.
It was initially reported that Westbrook approached Braun for the No. 0, but the guard wouldn’t accept anything for the number.
However, Westbrook has come forward in defense of his new teammate to say he never asked for the number.
“Let’s please leave our young star alone,” Westbrook wrote in an Instagram story.
“CB and I never discussed him passing along the number 0. I didn’t want it, inquire about, or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a ‘new’ number.
“The excitement of the new season has already begun, and unfortunately I know that means the offload of many false stories.
“Not today! CB and I are locked in and ready to get things rockin’ in the mile high city.”
Fans came to the defense of Westbrook and commended him for sticking up for his teammate after the false reports.
“Say what you want about Russ but he’s always been a great teammate,” one fan said.
“Such a weird story for someone to make up dude ain’t even played a game and ppl startin drama w him in denver already,” another fan said.
“People already trying to ruin team chemistry, then gonna blame it on Russ per usual,” a third fan said.
“Great leader. Media always tryna throw dirt on his name for no reason,” a fourth fan said.
What the new TV deal means for the NBA?
By The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Sports Editor Damian Burchardt.
THE new TV rights deal is promising to be a humongous win for NBA players.
The league is set to more than double the revenue coming from its media partners, pocketing about $6.9 billion per year, which will inevitably lead to a huge salary cap spike in 2025-26.
That is going to send the value of player contracts skyrocketing.
Projected figures suggest we might see the first $100 million-per-year deal being signed soon.
Currently, Boston Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum is projected to earn the highest single-season salary in NBA history, collecting $71.5 million in 2029-30.
If TNT Sports successfully matches one of the offers to maintain its decades-long partnership with the league, hoops fans will be on the winning side too.
The network’s flagship, Inside the NBA, is a one-of-a-kind sports entertainment show, as evidenced by ESPN’s ongoing failure to come up with its own version of the program in recent years.
The NBA wouldn’t be the same without Kenny and Ernie trying to make sense of Shaq and Chuck’s never-ending bickering every Tuesday night.
“Real professional right there… salute to Westbrook,” a fifth fan said.
Westbrook signed a two-year, $6.77 million deal with the Nuggets and will primarily serve as a sparkplug off the bench.
For the past two years, Westbrook has spent most of his time coming off the bench and has embraced the role.
He has also been successful in it, averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game as a bench guy in 2023.
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