Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook declined his $3.4-million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania on Friday.
Denver is $10.6 million below the second apron with 12 players under contract after Westbrook declined his option, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks.
The former MVP recently announced that he underwent surgery to repair two broken bones in his right hand.
Westbrook posted 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds across 75 games in his one season in Denver. The 36-year-old also led the Nuggets' bench unit during the playoffs, averaging 11.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 24 minutes per contest.
Denver went 50-32 this season but fired longtime head coach Michael Malone just ahead of the postseason. Assistant David Adelman took over on an interim basis before the club gave him the full-time head coaching gig in early May.
The Oklahoma City Thunder eliminated the Nuggets in Round 2 of the postseason.
