Russell Westbrook fires back at criticism directed at the Nuggets after their loss to the Lakers

Russell Westbrook didn’t hold back when addressing the criticism that followed the Denver Nuggets’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. After the Nuggets bounced back with a 116-110 victory over the Sacramento Kings, the veteran guard made it clear that much of the discourse surrounding Denver is based solely on nationally televised games rather than their full body of work throughout the season.

“Obviously, some people only watch the national TV games, so they saw the Boston game, and now everyone has something to say,” Westbrook said. “But all year long, consistently, I didn’t hear any of this talk before. Now, all of a sudden, we lose to the Lakers, and everybody’s losing their minds.”

Westbrook’s comments highlight a long-standing issue for the Nuggets: their on-court success hasn’t always translated to media recognition. Despite being the reigning NBA champions and having one of the league’s most dominant superstars in Nikola Jokić, Denver continues to fly under the radar compared to big-market teams like the Lakers, Boston Celtics, and Golden State Warriors.

A lack of national exposure fuels the perception that Denver isn’t on the same level as other contenders, even though the numbers tell a different story. The Nuggets have remained one of the top teams in the Western Conference, excelling on both ends of the floor and proving they’re still a legitimate title threat.

Russell Westbrook vs Sacramento Kings

Westbrook on Denver’s identity

Westbrook also emphasized the Nuggets’ ability to dictate pace and capitalize in transition. “We don’t panic. We play the right way… Get stops. Run in transition. Because we’re the best transition team in the league. When we get stops, teams can’t load up on Jokić,” Westbrook explained.

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However, because casual fans don’t follow Denver’s season night in and night out, narratives are often shaped by the handful of marquee games they do watch. As a result, the Nuggets—despite their success—still don’t receive the same level of attention or respect as other high-profile teams.

Westbrook’s words underscore an uncomfortable truth: the Nuggets remain one of the NBA’s most overlooked teams, not because of their play, but because of the way they are perceived. Until that narrative shifts, they will continue to face skepticism from those who only tune in when the lights are brightest.