Westbrook to Don New Jersey Number with Nuggets
Russell Westbrook will not be donning the No. 0 jersey for the Denver Nuggets next season, marking a significant change in his storied NBA career. This shift to the No. 4 jersey is a revisitation of Westbrook’s roots, as he previously wore this number both in high school and on another occasion in his professional journey.
The decision comes following a sequence of trades and buyouts. Westbrook was initially traded by the Los Angeles Clippers to the Utah Jazz, a move that led to a buyout of his contract. Subsequently, the veteran point guard joined the Nuggets in free agency, facing a situation where his familiar No. 0 jersey was already taken by Christian Braun.
Christian Braun, who currently sports the No. 0 jersey for the Denver Nuggets, coincidentally wore the same number during his high school career, much like Westbrook. “Let's please leave our young star alone. CB and I never discussed him passing along the number 0. I did want to inquire about or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a 'new' number," Westbrook clarified, emphasizing his decision to not press Braun for the number.
The No. 4 jersey was occupied by rookie Hunter Tyson, who was a second-round pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Tyson, having appeared in just 18 games for the Nuggets and averaging under three minutes per game, agreed to switch to No. 5. This cordial gesture allowed Westbrook to reclaim the number that has a deep personal significance to him.
“Obviously I could have stayed with zero if I wanted to, but I just decided to [pick four]. It's kind of my first time in my career I can go back to my original number,” Westbrook explained. “Four is my favorite number. It reminds me and it gives me a sense of my roots and where I started from and where I get it from.”
Westbrook’s connection to the No. 4 jersey runs long and deep. During his tenure at UCLA, he was unable to wear the number as it was taken by Arron Afflalo. His NBA journey has seen similar scenarios where the No. 4 jersey was unavailable. “When I got to Oklahoma, even at UCLA, I got there, Arron Afflalo had it at UCLA. Then I got to Oklahoma City, Nick Collison had it. Then when I got to Houston, Danuel House had it. So I didn't have an opportunity to kind of go back to my original number,” he reflected.
Westbrook’s return to No. 4 can be viewed as a nostalgic reconnection to the beginnings of his basketball career. Having been a dynamic force in the NBA, his transition with the Nuggets may also symbolize a fresh start or a return to fundamentals, embraced right from his high school days. With Christian Braun and Hunter Tyson showing mutual respect and camaraderie, the stage is set for Westbrook to perhaps redefine another chapter in his illustrious career with the Denver Nuggets.