Overview
- NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Westbrook will start Friday in Minnesota as head coach Doug Christie changes the rotation.
- Dennis Schröder has struggled during the slide, shooting 4-for-27 in his last four games with averages of 3.5 points and 4.3 assists.
- Russell Westbrook has posted 14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game on 44.0% shooting and 39.7% from three in 27.8 minutes.
- Westbrook signed in mid-October on a one-year, non-guaranteed veteran-minimum deal, while Schröder arrived on a three-year, $44 million contract after winning EuroBasket 2025 MVP.
- Christie had foreshadowed changes, and Westbrook has already toggled between starts and bench minutes, including small-ball forward while Keegan Murray recovers from thumb surgery.