Jaylen Brown took to Instagram to call Russell Westbrook a G.O.A.T. after the 35-year-old was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to Danny Ainge’s Utah Jazz — which then turned around and released Westbrook, leading to his signing with the Denver Nuggets.

Brown wasn’t the only NBA peer of Westbrook to either. Clippers teammate Norm Powell did the same thing.

Westbrook in a sixth man role on the Nuggets could be a make-or-break development in Denver after falling short in their repeat bid and losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (to the Orlando Magic in free agency) and Reggie Jackson (via trade to the Charlotte Hornets). Their starting five lost a knockdown shooter and their second unit lost its table-setter. Westbrook should be able to cover the latter role, but his efficiency, particularly from beyond the arc, has never been high.

Westbrook may need to get starter-level minutes on a Nuggets team that’d otherwise have to rely on first and second-year players. If he can handle them, he can set himself up for one last MLE type deal in his career. If he’s vital enough, perhaps that’s in the Mile High City.

If things don’t go well, and Mike Malone has to make an uncomfortable lineup decision after losses pile up, this could be one of Westbrook’s final chances in the NBA. DeMarcus Cousins and Carmelo Anthony didn’t get celebrated endings to their career, and Westbrook is in a similar boat to those guys for many reasons.

Brown has been doing nothing but doling out blessings this offseason after winning the Bill Russell Finals MVP Award. Not only did he back up Westbrook, but he showed love to fellow Celtic Derrick White after many called Brown a Team USA snub and tried to turn the teammates on each other.

“I called Derrick right away,” Brown said (h/t ESPN). “Just to make sure there’s no confusion, my love for you and all of that. He knew that, and he did. You don’t always gotta make everything public. Me and D-White are good.”

Brown’s got things too good right now to stress. Champions don’t sweat when the media, social media included, tries to divide.

They know coming together to win is far greater than any narrative