Many players change their jersey numbers during the offseason, often due to moving to a new team or for personal reasons. Russell Westbrook, a former MVP, recently made headlines by changing his number to four after joining the Denver Nuggets. This switch stirred up some controversy, and here’s why.
Initially, when news broke of Westbrook joining the Nuggets, it was expected he would wear the number zero, which is currently worn by Christian Braun. Braun, a promising young guard, had no intention of changing his number. This situation led to speculation and controversy, with some reports suggesting that Westbrook had requested the number zero from Braun. However, Westbrook clarified that these rumors were unfounded. He stated on Instagram that he and Braun had never discussed the number, and he chose to wear number four to mark this new chapter in his career. Westbrook emphasized his excitement for the new season and the false narratives circulating.
Throughout his career, Westbrook has predominantly worn the number zero, though he has always preferred number four. He explained that he had wanted to wear number four with several teams but it was already taken. For instance, Arron Afflalo wore it during Westbrook’s time at UCLA, Nick Collison had it with the Thunder, and Danuel House wore it with the Rockets. Now, wearing number four again feels special to him, symbolizing his roots and the beginning of his journey.
Despite only wearing two numbers—zero and four—Westbrook’s roles have varied significantly. With the Thunder, Rockets, and Clippers, where he wore zero, his role differed with each team. On the Thunder, he was a key player or second option, while with the Rockets, James Harden was the primary star. At the Clippers, Westbrook was part of a talented roster that included Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George. Conversely, with the Wizards, where he wore number four, he was seen as the main option.
