Russell Westbrook reacts to reports of jersey rejection

Russell Westbrook has emphatically denied reports that Christian Braun, his new Nuggets teammate, shot down his request to wear the No. 0 jersey in the upcoming NBA season.

The former MVP took to social media to dispel what he labeled a "false" story involving him and Braun. He also expressed excitement about sharing the locker room with the 23-year-old guard.

Westbrook — who wore the No. 0 jersey for most of his NBA career — will revert to the No. 4 jersey he donned during his only year with the Wizards in the 2020-21 season. The No. 4 jersey was originally owned by second-year Nuggets guard Hunter Tyson, who handed it over to Westbrook.

It was earlier reported by Harrison Wind of DNVR_Sports that Braun "didn't budge" after turning down Westbrook's request for the No. 0 jersey. The report triggered mixed reactions on social media, with some praising Braun — entering his third season with the Nuggets — for standing his ground, and others criticizing him for not doing right by a future Hall of Famer such as Westbrook.

Regardless of how it all went down, there's little doubt Braun and Westbrook will get along swimmingly as teammates. Over the years, many have spoken glowingly about Westbrook's positive impact as a locker-room presence, especially in the face of adversity. Lakers guard Austin Reaves previously referred to Westbrook as "one of the best teammates" he's ever had, a sentiment shared by others such as Bradley Beal, Paul George, Dennis Schroder and Steven Adams.

Westbrook, Braun and Co. begin the season with a game against the Thunder on Oct. 24. The Nuggets will feature in the sixth-most nationally televised games (22) this upcoming season, behind only the Lakers (29), Celtics (26), Warriors (24), Knicks (24) and Mavericks (23).