Father of 3, Russell Westbrook Issues Apology to His Kids as True Emotions After Playoff Victory Emerge

After contributing 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in Denver’s Game 6 loss, Russell Westbrook stormed back into Game 7 of the Nuggets vs. Clippers series like a man possessed. The result? A defiant, emotional, and deeply personal performance in what many fans will remember as a showdown not just between franchises, but between legacies, memories, and unfinished business. Denver may have walked away with the 120–101 win, but Westbrook? He ensured his presence was felt, loud and unfiltered.

Russell Westbrook warned us early on this postseason. We just didn’t take him seriously enough. The 36-year-old said, “My job is to… excuse my language, but f— s— up.” Not your average NBA soundbite, right? But then again, Russell Westbrook has never been average, on or off the court. The profanity may have raised eyebrows, but it came from a place of raw, unfiltered passion.

And Westbrook, father of three, kept the same passion after the Game 7 stunner of 120-101. Albeit, this time it had an off-the-cuff apology: “Excuse my language with my kids at home,” he said during the post-game presser, nodding to the fact that his own children were likely watching. In that single line, we saw the duality of Russell Westbrook. The firebrand competitor and the conscious, present father.

Russell Westbrook lit a fire in Game 7 against the Clippers that no box score could contain. Let’s back up. This wasn’t just another series for Denver. The Clippers had puzzled with them before, remember the Bubble? Almost the same teams, with eerily similar stakes. But this time around, Westbrook was part of the narrative, not a bystander. And in true Russ fashion, he didn’t play it safe.

“Close-out games are very difficult in this league,” he admitted post-game win. He paused. Then, as if turning a key into the ignition of what made him Russell Westbrook, he added, “But I told y’all after Game 1—I came to f— s— up. And that’s what I did.” And man, did he back it up!

In Game 7, Westbrook delivered a stat line that underscored his multifaceted impact: 16 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals off the bench. This performance wasn’t just about numbers. It was more about setting the tone and energizing his team during critical moments. Moreover, Westbrook made NBA history by recording the most offensive rebounds by a guard in Game 7s, displaying his relentless hustle and determination to affect the game in every possible way.

You can’t script it better. A returning Westbrook, coming off a freak injury, walking back onto the hardwood with fury in his eyes and a promise to deliver. He wasn’t the top scorer. He didn’t stuff the stat sheet. But he did exactly what Westbrook always does—change the energy of the game. That chaotic, unpredictable, relentless energy that turns routine plays into emotional flashpoints. More than anything, this was about disruption. “I work my butt off,” Westbrook said when asked about missing Game 4. “Being able to get back out there with them is big for us… and take some of the load off the guys on our team.”

And with the Clippers as their opponent, Westbrook sure was hunting for revenge.

After the Clippers traded him, Westbrook made them pay

Traded by the Clippers in July 2024 after struggling with the team during the regular season, Westbrook was sent to the Utah Jazz, where he was waived shortly after. He then signed with the Nuggets, where he became a key contributor in their playoff run and played a pivotal role in eliminating the Clippers from the postseason. As he entered the Nuggets’ locker room after the game, he remarked, “They picked the wrong person, didn’t they?” highlighting the personal stakes behind his emotional performance.

The Clippers’ decision to trade Westbrook was controversial, and his explosive return in Game 7 showed that the trade may have been a mistake in his eyes. His comment was a direct shot at the franchise that chose to move on from him after a tough season, adding more fuel to the fire of what was already a highly charged series. Westbrook’s performance made it clear that he had unfinished business with the Clippers, and with this series, he had delivered his statement.

Game 7, more than anything, reveals character. For Westbrook, it became a stage to reinforce the identity he’s built over 15 seasons: fearless, fiery, and fully committed. And this wasn’t just about basketball. This was a reckoning with the Clippers. There was symbolism accounted for in every possession, even his return felt symbolic. The man who effed up Game 3 because of a freak issue wasn’t going to sit back and watch another collapse. It mattered. To him. To the Nuggets.

The Clippers didn’t win the series, and the Nuggets moved forward. But in the rubble of another tough postseason, Westbrook leaves behind a moment. A soundbite, a stare-down, a flurry of energy that lingers. He didn’t come to blend in. He came to ‘f— s— up!’ And in a league often obsessed with polish and brand control, maybe that’s why we still need Russell Westbrook. Because chaos, when channeled, can be a game-changer.

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