The Denver Nuggets' early exit from the 2026 NBA Playoffs was a shocking outcome for everyone. What they might have been missing was the Sacramento Kings' Russell Westbrook, the guy who played a huge part in dragging the Nuggets to game seven of the second round of the 2025 Playoffs.
Watching the Nikola Jokic-led Denver squad get bounced in the first round was unexpected, to say the least. That hasn't happened since 2022, when the Warriors beat them on the way to another championship. Since then, the Nuggets have won a title and made the second round twice.
That's part of what made this postseason's end for the Nuggets so surprising. The Timberwolves beat them without Ayo Dosunmu, Donte DiVincenzo, and Anthony Edwards on the floor. Denver should have been able to defeat a weakened Minneapolis squad, yet that didn't happen.
“Westbrook was in his chest like bronchitis” 😭💯
— Beastbrook (@Beastbr00k0) May 3, 2026
This is what the NBA playoffs are missing 💔 pic.twitter.com/5MKepmYuoY
One of the biggest things the Nuggets lacked was heart, and they had that last season in the form of Russell Westbrook. He is a monster in the playoffs and helped drag Denver to the second round last season. Without him, they likely would have been knocked out in round one in 2025.
Westbrook remains a difference maker in this league
The crazy part is how Westbrook ended up on the Kings in the first place. He had a player option with the Nuggets for 2025-2026, but they asked him not to take it and leave. It worked out well for Sacramento because they managed to scoop him up, and he could be integral to the rebuild.
While this season didn't exactly go great for the Kings, it's impossible to understate how big an impact Westbrook has had on the team. He has quickly filled the role of mentor to the rookies and sophomores on the roster, not to mention an on-court general as their starting point guard.
Westbrook is currently an unrestricted free agent. The Kings are working on keeping both him and Precious Achiuwa this offseason. That being said, those decisions won't be made until several situations are worked out, such as what's happening with Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine.
The Nuggets were missing Westbrook's leadership, tenacity, and seasoned skill this year in the playoffs. Hopefully, the Kings are able to avoid losing him in the offseason. Denver might have had a better postseason in 2026 if they had the foresight to not dump him so unceremoniously.
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