When the Denver Nuggets signed Russell Westbrook in the offseason, there were already expectations for how the experience would go.

Westbrook spent the last three seasons with both the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers. Constantly under the microscope, both experiences ended up badly for the veteran point guard. Playing next to ball dominant stars in LeBron James and James Harden, Westbrook struggled to find his fit within either situation. Westbrook played plenty of minutes out of position last season for the Clippers following the Harden trade, and while that might have been the best course for the Clippers given their commitment to Harden, it certainly didn’t do Westbrook any favors.

“To be honest, it was unique. They just didn’t put me in a position to make it unique,” Westbrook shared about his experience playing with other ball handlers with the Clippers. “I was in a position where I was playing not my position.”

The Nuggets knew going into this partnership that Westbrook has a very specific skill set. He gets downhill, driving and collapsing the defense with explosive athleticism that still appears tremendous heading into his 17th season. He’s not Jamal Murray, whose ability and craft allow him to navigate defenses and capitalize on small missteps. He’s Russell Westbrook. He’s going to put you through a wall.

“Russ is super intense. He’s an intense guy. Everything about him,” shared Aaron Gordon after practice yesterday. “It’s just nice to look over and see somebody that’s constantly pushing you. Constantly wanting you to get better.”

The respect for Russ comes from all areas of the organization. The young guys like Peyton Watson and Christian Braun look up to him and what he’s done in the league. The older guys like Aaron Gordon and DeAndre Jordan value his energy and his abilities as a teammate. Head coach Michael Malone can’t stop complimenting his level of commitment to the process.

“It’s just who he is,” Malone said of Westbrook’s intensity and commitment. “It’s not something he’s trying to be.”

“It’s every day, and that’s what you admire and respect about it, because that’s just how he’s wired, and I love it. Just the intangibles, he pushes the guys in front of him, he pushes the guys on his team, the team he’s competing against.”

“Really thankful that Russ is here.”

Let’s make something clear: it’s three days into training camp. It isn’t uncommon for players and coaches to praise the new veteran voice in the locker room that puts on a good face and tries to make a positive impact in a new situation. That could be all this is, and discussions about energy and passion might dissipate quickly.

Hypothetically, let’s say that’s not all this is.

The Nuggets responded really well to the combination of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green during the 2022-23 season. Brown brought the physicality, attitude, and mean streak the team needed. For a long time, the Nuggets were called soft before they won a title. They were never called soft while Bruce Brown was on the floor. With Jeff Green, there was a sense of focus and purpose. The team wanted to win a title for Jeff Green, for DeAndre Jordan, and for Ish Smith. That veteran trio, primarily Jeff and DeAndre, was a major catalyst behind the scenes for Denver’s success, keeping the group together and locked in.

Hypothetically, could Westbrook fill some version of those two roles? He’s already pushing the pace, playing physically, and imploring teammates to do the same. He’s already connecting well with DeAndre Jordan. The two are great friends and laugh a lot after practice, simply enjoying each other’s company while talking with Malone and anyone else passing by.

He’s in a unique position to be one of Denver’s leaders this season.

“I love it. I think I said this at Media Day, leadership is the best part of this job for me personally,” Westbrook said after practice over the weekend. “Like, real leadership…understanding guys’ backgrounds, understanding their struggle, and understanding their strength, understanding their family. All aspects of not just basketball but life.”

“The most enjoyable part of this job is to see the joy in somebody else.”

The personal dynamics are really interesting here. While fans must be conscientious of Westbrook’s previous stops and Westbrook’s part in why they didn’t work, it doesn’t have to define his role and responsibility in Denver.

With the Nuggets, there are very few questions about what Westbrook’s position will be. He’s the backup point guard and will get chances to play with the starters if all goes well. Jamal Murray is the starting point guard. Nikola Jokic is the best player. The Nuggets have a championship formula that has worked, and they’re asking Westbrook to bring his own personal skill set – on and off the floor – to win another ring. The great thing about the Nuggets and Jokic specifically is how adaptable they are to different skill sets. Jokic and Westbrook will absolutely find a way to coexist.

The questions are, rightfully so, about whether Westbrook will work in his bench role when Jokic isn’t out there. How he handles responsibilities with Dario Saric, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson will be interesting. That quartet will share the floor a ton. Early in the season, they will likely be joined by a fifth bench player. Later on, one of Jamal Murray or Michael Porter Jr. will stagger with the second unit more consistently.

Can Westbrook make that work? Can he limit turnovers? Avoid driving into impossible crowds? Stop himself from taking that enticing open three-pointer every now and then? These are all fair questions that will be answered in time. It’s possible fans may not like the answers as they occur.

But for now, I’m willing to have an open mind. If the players and coaches are all raving about Russell Westbrook and the impact he’s having, then maybe it’s okay to listen to them.