Following Malone and Booth's untimely firings, The Athletic put out a report claiming Westbrook was the 'biggest lightning rod' that put a wrench between the now-former head coach and general manager.

This was never more evident than in Denver's 140-139 double-overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 1. Westbrook attempted to disrupt Nickeil Alexander-Walker's three-point attempt as time expired, in the process running into the Wolves guard and being whistled for a foul.

Interim Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman had an impossible task on paper in his first game against the Sacramento Kings.