ESPN’s very own Brian Windhorst is saying what we’ve all been thinking: Westbrook shouldn’t be allowed to shoot three-pointers ever again.
Let’s face it, Westbrook’s three-point shooting has been downright abysmal. He’s shooting a measly 27.3% from beyond the arc last season. That’s just embarrassing for a player of his caliber. And it’s not like he’s been improving either. His three-point shooting has been steadily declining over the past few years.
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But it’s not just about the numbers. Westbrook’s shot selection is questionable at best. He’s known for taking ill-advised, off-balance, and contested threes. It’s like he’s trying to prove something, but all he’s proving is that he shouldn’t be allowed to shoot from downtown anymore.
Speaking on an episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst said;
“They [Nuggets] finished 25th in three-pointers made last season before KCP left… I wouldn’t let him shoot any more threes ever again, quite honestly.”
While Windhorst and his co-hosts’ words may seem unfair, there is good reason for Westbrook‘s three-point shooting to be brought into question, especially considering how poorly the Nuggets shot from beyond the arc last season. Westbrook’s inability to shoot three-pointers will only cause further problems for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets replaced Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a well-known three-point specialist, with Westbrook, a player who is known for his weakness when it comes to shooting from beyond the arc. For a team that didn’t do well from the three-point line last season, it will be an interesting challenge for the coaches to work around him.
Last season, KCP shot 40.6% from the three-point line, and 36.9% for his career. As for Russell Westbrook, his numbers are significantly worse, shooting 27.3% from the three-point line and 30.4% for his career. Even his best three-point percentage came in 2016-17, with 34.3% from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets replacing KCP with Westbrook is interesting, considering there is already a blueprint for why that is a bad idea. The Lakers did the same in 2021, trading Caldwell-Pope as part of the package to land Westbrook. The deal worked horribly for the Lakers, missing the playoffs that season.
Russell Westbrook will be ready to prove how valuable a player he can be, even in this late stage of his career. After what was a disappointing stint with the Clippers, where he played well but had to take a back seat to star players like Paul George and James Harden, this will be his last chance to earn a massive pay-day next season.
It is currently unclear whether Westbrook will be a starter or come off the bench on the Nuggets. The coaching staff is definitely going to try and keep their plans close to the vest. It is a pivotal season for the Nuggets, and they need everything to go as smoothly as possible to ensure success.
So, I’m with Brian Windhorst on this one. Westbrook shouldn’t be allowed to shoot three-pointers anymore. It’s time for him to focus on his strengths and leave the long-range shooting to someone else.
Flip to the next page to watch Brian Windhorst speak his mind…
