Still, for all his immaturity, Westbrook has been a net-positive for the Nuggets, who managed to survive a seven-game slugfest against the Clippers, and are trailing, 3-2, in their Western Conference semifinal series against Westbrook's original team, the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook is no stranger to drama. The polarizing NBA figure has been dealing with more than his fair share of it since his disappointing tenure in Los Angeles. That drama has followed him to the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook came under scrutiny recently after an eye-catching report from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

The Nuggets decided against Russell Westbrook right before they won their first title. This year, they made the bold bet.