The Sacramento Kings collected another loss, dropping them to five and 15 on the season. Thankfully, last night wasn't all bad as the living legend Russell Westbrook picked up yet another triple-double, increasing his career total to 205 and giving Jokic a new target to chase.
Westbrook's tenure with the Kings has been short, but incredibly impactful. Most pundits questioned bringing in a player who was going into his 18th season and what he would bring to the team. It turns out those people were all wrong and likely owe Wesbrook an apology.
Sorry about all of that, Russell.
Since joining the Kings, Westbrook has had a great season. He's regularly adding to his list of double-doubles as well as picking up a few triple-doubles. If that's not enough, he's played so well that he's now the starting point guard for the team. That's not too shabby for season 18.
While the Kings are Keegan Murray's team, especially once the rebuild is underway, Westbrook has become their veteran leader. That's going to be incredibly important in the near future, particularly for young players and rookies who are in need of a mentor. No one knows basketball the way Russ does.
Westbrook means more to the Kings than triple-doubles
Against the Jazz, Westbrook dropped the incredible stat line of 16 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists, and four steals. He actually led the team in rebounds, assists, and steals, though Murray came close in two of those three categories. Frankly, Murray and Westbrook are looking like a solid duo.
While he contributes in a number of ways, Russell remains the veteran presence the Kings need. He's the engine that drives the team and keeps them pushing forward, even when they're at their lowest. When the Kings were in the middle of their eight-game slide, he was reputed to be the motivator.
Look, the Kings are going into a rebuild that will be based primarily around younger players in the early stages of their careers. Russell Westbrook obviously doesn't fit into that category. No disrespect to the man, but it's been at least seven seasons since he could be described that way.
At the same time, that doesn't mean he doesn't bring something to the team. Westbrook is a huge source of energy and drive right now, and he could continue to be a veteran leader in the future. Hopefully, the Kings do the right thing and keep the history maker on the roster for a little longer.