After an NBA championship in 2023, the Denver Nuggets entered the 2023-24 season with higher hopes than ever before. A 57-win regular season was fantastic, but a second-round exit disappointed the franchise.

The 2024 offseason was huge for Denver as everyone knew the loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope would significantly impact their coverage strength. So who did the Nuggets hire to strengthen their backcourt unit? 2017 NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook.

It was a no-brainer for Denver to sign the future Hall of Fame point guard to a two-year deal worth just $6.7 million, especially given how well his play complements superstar center Nikola Jokic.

Westbrook has been on a roll lately and continued to make a big impact in Monday’s win over the Phoenix Suns. With star guard Jamal Murray sidelined, Westbrook earned a start and dropped 11 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. The 36-year-old Westbrook even turned back the clock with some highlight-reel dunks, reminding the league how explosive he can be.

On @NBA: “(Russell Westbrook) rises for the PUTBACK!”

Westbrook’s putback slam had over 20,000 likes on Instagram, but the conversation didn’t stop there. The performance trended across X, formerly known as Twitter.

About @Nuggets: “RUSS”

Via @NBA: “A FEW BIG RUSS SLAMS”

Via @StatMamba: “Russell Westbrook’s last three games:
19.3 PPG
6.0 Role Playing
7.3 APG
2.3 self-propelled gun
64.1% FG
While holding opponents to 34.8% FG”

Westbrook has been hugely important to the Nuggets and played a major role in Denver’s recent winning streak. The Nuggets have won five of their last six games, highlighted by Westbrook’s dominant three-game streak.

Russ wasn’t as effective on Monday as he was in the previous three games, but his two viral dunks and his most recent play certainly put the NBA on notice.

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