The Denver Nuggets are on the verge of reaching yet another Western Conference Finals to face Minnesota Timberwolves, who knocked them out of the playoffs last season. The Nuggets were facing elimination in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals, but they responded as the team’s bench added 27 points, and the starters combined for a total of 92 points, which led them past the Thunder. With Game 7 on the horizon, the Nuggets have a chance to knock off the 68-win OKC Thunder team from the NBA playoffs, and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the third time in only 6 seasons. So this leads us to question who the Nuggets need the most to step up in Game 7, and the answer is none other than 2016-2017 NBA MVP winner Russell Westbrook. Why? Let’s find out more.
Russell Westbrook was specifically recruited to the Nuggets to be an energizing bunny coming off of the bench, and add more playmaking and scoring for the team. While he was extremely reliable in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers, Westbrook has had a bad stretch of games playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Round 2 of the 2025 NBA playoffs. After the first two games, where Westbrook combined for 37 points, he hasn’t scored in double figures in the last four games of this 7 game series and has only accumulated a total of 26 points.
Westbrook is in his 17th season of his NBA career, and has only had one finals appearance so far, which was back in 2012 playing for the OKC Thunder alongside Kevin Durant, and James Harden. If he wants to win an NBA championship, there is no better opportunity than the one he currently has. Westbrook hasn’t been to the Conference Finals since 2016, and Game 7 will arguably be some of the biggest games that he’ll be a part of in his career.
We all know what Nikola Jokic brings to the table when it comes to Game 7s, as he averages 24.3 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. The Nuggets’ starters will do what they are supposed to do, but the only question that arises is who will help them off the bench. If the Nuggets get little to no production from their role players, it will be extremely tough for them to win Game 7 on the road. The reason they won Game 6 was simply because of Julian Strawther’s additional 15 points coming off of the bench, which was enough to lead them past the Thunder.
The lights are the brightest in Game 7s and Westbrook has a chance to show the world, what he is all about and how he can still impact winning in his 17th season. With Nuggets’ starter Aaron Gordon out for at least a month with a Grade 2 hamstring injury, Brodie will need to step up to give the Nuggets any hope of winning Game 7. Can the Nuggets advance past OKC? We’ll find out soon enough.
Also Read: When is the NBA MVP announced? 2025 NBA MVP Announcement Date, Selection Criteria and Top Contenders
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