The Sacramento Kings danced around signing Russell Westbrook all summer, finally getting him on contract just before the end of the preseason. But a bigger announcement followed as Westbrook has made it clear he isn't retiring and that could mean a longer tenure with the Kings.
Westbrook has been in the NBA for a minute or two. He was technically drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in 20028 but the team moved and became the Oklahoma City Thunder before his first game. He would end up spending an amazing 11 years with OKC, likely his best in the league.
During his NBA run, he has been a nine-time All-Star, a two-time All-Star Game MVP, the NBA MVP, a two-time NBA scoring champion, and a three-time NBA assists leader. Plus, he's triple-double powerhouse. His accolades are, without question, Hall of Fame worthy.
That's why it felt so odd when Russ had trouble finding a roster spot for the 2025-2026 season. He chose not to stay with the Nuggets, and tested free agency. The only team who had any interest was the Kings, which signed him just before the end of the preseason to a one-year contract.
Westbrook's unexpected future
While it remains to be seen how he fits into the Kings' roster, it's nice to see him get signed. A living legend like Westbrook has earned the opportunity to go out playing. Fans want to see him retire on the court with a proper season as a goodbye. This was assumed to be his final season.
Russell Westbrook speaking with the media for the first time as a Sacramento King.
— Matt George (@MattGeorgeSAC) October 19, 2025
Biggest takeaways:
- Motivated by the doubts people have in this Kings team.
- This is not his last season, according to him.
- Will be ready for Wednesday's opener.
- Picking his number was hard. pic.twitter.com/mEFAORndPz
Apparently, those people are wrong. In his own mini-media day after practice, Westbrook made it extremely clear that this is not his last season in the NBA. He fully intends to continue playing after his 18th season has finished, which could definitely impact the Kings going forward.
Again, no other team showed much interest in Westbrook's services. He may not be the Russell Westbrook from the good ol' days but he's still Russell Westbrook. He's playing for the league minimum to veterans and definitely brings something to the table.
If he's already talking about next season, then it's not hard to imagine that the Kings are part of the conversation. The front office sees him as part of their changing culture in Sacramento, which will take a long time to correct. As such, it seems likely he's there for the rest of his NBA career.