Rumors suggest that Russell Westbrook has come to an agreement to finalize a deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to reports from Shams Charania of ESPN. The former recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player award and participant in nine All-Star/All-NBA selections is said to be returning for his 18th season. Details of the arrangement are expected to surface soon.
Westbrook, now 36 years old, recorded an average of 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds within approximately 27.9 minutes of playing time, spread across 75 games (36 as a starter) with the Denver Nuggets in the prior season. He ranked among only 17 NBA athletes who achieved such statistics — a compilation heavily populated by All-Star, All-NBA, and MVP contenders.
That illustrates the elite level at which Westbrook competed during his time in Oklahoma City, both alongside and independent of Kevin Durant. Over the past half-decade, his career journeyed through various locations—including tenures with Houston, Washington, and both Los Angeles teams—before joining Nikola Jokić in Denver. As his shooting precision diminished, and his rate of turnovers grew, Westbrook transitioned from a cornerstone superstar of a franchise to a somewhat complex addition to teams aspiring to contend.
Nevertheless, he can still be a beneficial player. His partnership with Jokić this season highlighted this, where he demonstrated the capacity to outperform contracts with veteran minimum salaries. He even contributed significantly in the postseason.
Westbrook continues to inject substantial energy into each possession. His aptitude helps boost his team’s pace during transitions, sparked by steals and defensive rebounds. Despite his advancing years, he still capably manages pick-and-roll plays, identifies openings in the defense, and drives towards the basket. During the last season, he attempted over 40% of his field goals at the rim, successfully converting 64% of those attempts, which marks his highest success rate since 2021.
More frequently playing without the ball next to Jokić last season, he also demonstrated some capability in adapting his gameplay to a bit further away from the center of the court, achieving a career-best of 45 corner three-pointers last season, which surpassed his combined total from the previous two seasons, at a rate of 42%. He also maintained his ability to elevate his performance during crucial times, such as in Denver’s first-round victory over the Clippers, which preceded his arrival in Denver:
Although Westbrook played a pivotal role in Denver’s initial playoff-round triumph against the Clippers, his effectiveness waned in the subsequent series against Oklahoma City. He only achieved a shooting accuracy of 34.8% from the field and 21.9% from beyond the arc, while accumulating more turnovers (18) than assists (17) across 160 minutes. During this timeframe, the Nuggets were outscored by a margin of 92 points, marking the poorest plus-minus statistic among all participants in the conference semifinals. Following the Clippers’ elimination by the Thunder, Westbrook underwent surgery to repair fractures in two bones of his shooting hand.
The paradox of Westbrook’s gameplay — characterized by his unique intensity and the potential for moments of loss of control — has positioned him as one of the NBA’s most captivating figures for nearly two decades. Consequently, he becomes a fascinating choice for teams in search of free agency role-fillers: a prospective high-risk, high-reward acquisition. While his inconsistent jump shot and issues with turnovers might undermine a second unit, his fervor, drives to the rim, endurance, and extensive experience at a high level can still provide considerable benefit to a team pursuing a fresh infusion of vitality and attitude.
