It was another tough outing for the Sacramento Kings, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in a relatively competitive match. One of the bright spots in a painful evening was Russell Westbrook, who busted out some of that old Brodie magic for his new team.
No one really understood why Westbrook left the Denver Nuggets after last season. He played reasonably well there, seemed to fit in nicely, and appeared to be quite happy on the roster. Yet, he chose to explore free agency when the 2024-2025 season came to an end.
It probably didn't quite work out the way Russell envisioned. Roughly 29 teams across the NBA seemed to show little or no interest in him. Ultimately, the Kings signed Westbrook to help rebuild their culture and support Dennis Schroder at point guard.
Westbrook's slow start with the Kings
Thanks to being officially signed just before the regular season started, Westbrook didn't play with the Kings in the preseason. As such, the opening game of the regular season was his first time with the team on the court. It definitely showed.
Russell's first game saw him pick up six points, six rebounds, one assist, and one block. The second game wasn't much better, with seven points, one rebound, four assists, and one steal. It was a slow start, but he was finding his rhythm with his new team.
Business picked up for Russ incredibly in game three against the Lakers, one of his former teams. He closed out the contest with 18 points, which featured shooting four of six from the three-point line. On top of that, he had six rebounds, six assists, and one steal. That's not the main reason he's there.
What Westbrook really brings the Kings
Yes, the Kings brought Russell in to score and be a presence on the court. That is certainly important. At the same time, he's there to help change the Kings' culture, according to general manager Scott Perry. Whatever their rebuilding process is, Westbrook factors into it.
It's also hard to say how much longer Westbrook can bust out performances like the one he had against the Lakers. He actually exceeded many of his 2024-2025 averages. But he's also in his 18th season, and he cannot keep playing forever.
That's why it's important fans savor these epic Westbrook performances when they happen, particularly when they benefit the Kings. In the long run, his real benefit to Sacramento will be transferring his wealth of experience and knowledge to the rookies.