Nuggets’ President Says Russell Westbrook Wasn’t Source Of Conflict That Led To Front Office Bloodbath

Nuggets' Russell Westbrook (Image: Nuggets)

After the Denver Nuggets cleared house, firing both head coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth, reports came out that Nuggets point guard Russell Westbrook was a factor in the decision to fire both.

Disagreements between Malone and Booth about using Westbrook were part of a strenuous relationship. Additionally, reports of Malone’s leniency toward Westbrook were off-putting to many of the team’s players.

During a press conference on Monday, Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke denied any correlation between Westbrook and the firings of both Malone and Booth.

“Russ has been nothing but a positive for our group,” Kroenke said. “Russ was a very spicy ingredient for us to add, and we needed it.”

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The Nuggets finished the season at 50-32 and the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The Nuggets beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the first game of the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets and Clippers split their regular-season series with two wins apiece.

In a year in which the Western Conference has so many high-quality teams, the Nuggets need to ensure that the noise is gone if they hope to contend for a title.