As the Sacramento Kings continue through their rebuild, the goal is for the roster to get a lot younger. For that to work, they'll need a sobering veteran presence who can help guide them in the NBA. That person is Russell Westbrook, who has pretty much seen and done everything in the league.
There is no team in the current NBA that needs a rebuild more than the Kings. Frankly, it's quite possible that no team in the history of the NBA has ever needed a rebuild more than the current Kings. And that includes past iterations of Sacramento's "professional" basketball franchise.
While it's not without its problems, the rebuild process is well underway. The Kings had a productive 2025 Draft that resulted in building a solid rookie core. That includes moving undrafted rookie Dylan Cardwell from a two-way contract to a proper NBA contract after some great performances.
On top of that, the front office is taking a closer look at their sophomores and other G League players for potential breakout talents. All of that is a great starting point, but all of these young players still need to be acclimatized to the NBA ecosystem. That's where Russell Westbrook comes in.
Westbrook is basically a player/coach for the Kings
NBA rookies need more guidance than the coaching staff can offer on their own. They need a veteran leader on the court who can help them navigate the pitfalls of the league. That includes the unseen ones off the court as well as everything that goes into being a successful player.
Now in his 18th season, Westbrook is the man for the job and has already been filling that role to an extent. He has one of the most impressive resumes in the NBA. The only thing missing at this stage is an NBA Championship, which he's not likely to pick up on the Kings in their current state.
But he could play a part in getting them there. Sacramento already has a solid base of players who have been in the league for five full seasons or less. Plus, they're looking to move more veterans off the team while adding more youth. They'll need someone like Westbrook to get them into shape.
A rebuild takes time, especially when it starts as deep in the basement as the Sacramento Kings are. Russell Westbrook is still playing solid basketball and has 17 seasons of wisdom and experience to pass on to the rookies. That is worth its weight in Larry O'Brien Championship Trophies.