Westbrook rejects the Nuggets 8.5 million contract: The last goal of the 37-year-old veteran, which team dares to take over

The data and passion remain, but the temptation of the championship made the veteran willing to bet on the biggest contract at the end of his career

When Westbrook glanced at his watch in the playoffs locker room in the Denver Plateau and blocked reporters' question about player options with a sentence "What do you wear tomorrow?", the future of the NBA history triple-double king is as dramatic as the trajectory of his career. This season's regular season, a five-man Nuggets lineup led by Westbrook (Westbrook + Braun + Porter Jr. + Aaron Gordon + Jokic) scored a terrifying efficiency of 25.8 points in 100 rounds, ranking first in the league. In Westbrook's 21 games, the Nuggets won 16 wins and 5 losses, with a winning rate of 76.2%, even exceeding Jokic's winning rate (66.7%).

However, at the end of the season, Westbrook, who had the option of $3.47 million in player, resolutely refused the Nuggets' three-year, $30 million contract renewal. The 37-year-old veteran is using his last big bet in his career to launch a final charge against the championship.

In modern basketball that emphasizes efficiency, Westbrook's existence is like a double-edged sword. This season, he delivered a record average of 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Although his shooting percentage of 44.9% is not amazing, it is the best performance in the past four seasons. Only when you go deep into high-level data can Westbrook's value truly emerge. His five-man lineup, with Jokic, Gordon and others, was the best in the league with a net victory of 25.8 points in a combination of more than 100 minutes of playing time. Behind this data is Westbrook's control over the rhythm of the game. He averaged 10.2 times per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.3%, even surpassing Devin Booker (9.7 times, 47.1%). In the fast break conversion, his finishing shooting percentage reached 61.2%, and he averaged 4.3 fast breaks per game.

However, time is unforgiving, Westbrook's performance in the playoffs has declined significantly: averaging 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, and his shooting percentage has dropped to 39.1%. Especially in the Western Conference semi-finals against the Thunder, he averaged only 9.9 points per game with injuries, and his efficiency was bleak. This volatility is exactly the biggest concern for each team when evaluating his value.

When the Nuggets management handed over the three-year $30 million contract extension, Westbrook's refusal caused an uproar. "Chasing the championship is more important than anything else. I hope the team can further improve the strength of the lineup." His statement directly points to the core demands. There are three strategic considerations hidden behind this rejection:

lineup ceiling concerns: Although the Nuggets have Jokic, the top center in the league, Porter Jr.'s big contract locks in the salary space, and the problem of insufficient lineup depth is fully exposed in the playoffs. Uncertainty of tactical status: After the new coach Adelman Jr. took office, Westbrook was fixed as a substitute in the playoffs, averaging only 24 minutes of playing time

The final window to win the championship: The 37-year-old Westbrook clearly realized that there is not much time left for him in his career

Westbrook's choice reflects the helplessness and wisdom of the veteran. The $400 million personal net worth allowed him to compromise for money8, and his rejection of the highest salary offered by European teams (more than $5.135 million) also confirms this. This former regular season MVP is trading his last choice for a championship ring.

When evaluating Westbrook's market conditions, a cruel reality is right in front of you: Salary experts evaluate their personal value between $13-18 million, but market acceptance may be much lower than that.

Possible quotation plans for each team:

Short salary: a "transitional contract" of about $15 million in one year, such as the Sun used up the Mini Middle Class special case.

Long-term middle class: a three-year guarantee contract of about 40 million yuan, similar to the plan proposed by the Clippers earlier.

Leave the team at a basic salary: If the salary space of the championship team is locked, Westbrook is not ruled out that he will accept a basic salary of $3.4 million this season.

Standing at the intersection of his career, Westbrook's choice is accompanied by huge risks: the curse of

tactical adaptation, the nightmare of the Lakers becoming a "space black hole" has not yet gone far, and the way of playing that requires the ball may squeeze the space for playing the ball. The crisis of efficiency decline, the free throw percentage of 66.1% this season hit a career low, and the shooting shortcomings were targeted in the playoffs. The countdown to the potential injuries and the scene of playing in the playoffs with a hand injury reminds people of the physical vulnerability of this veteran who relies on explosive power. However, opportunities are equally tempting. The pick-and-roll power (net efficiency +10.1 per 100 rounds) shown when Westbrook partnered with Jokic proves that he still has the ability to increase the cap of the championship team. When he led the Clippers' single-core team in the playoffs, his average of 23.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game, further demonstrating the superstar's background.

Westbrook's decision to reject the Nuggets' 8.5 million contract is like a microcosm of his career - full of controversy but shining with the light of a lone brave man. When other contemporary stars chose retirement contracts one after another, the 37-year-old veteran's rejection was the most sharp counterattack against NBA utilitarianism. League executives were still thinking about Westbrook's 41.9% three-point shooting percentage against the Clippers in the playoffs, and they were still thinking about it. Westbrook in the locker room had already packed his bags, and his watch and pointers were heading towards the most unpredictable summer in the NBA. The veteran has enough fuel in his fuel tank, just waiting for a championship team that dares to bet on his passion.