Thanks to an exceedingly bad call by the refs, the Sacramento Kings lost by one point in overtime against the Trail Blazers. One of the many good things to come out of that game was the play of DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook, who seem to be turning the clock further back every game.
Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan joined the Kings in the summer of 2024. He signed a three-year contract as part of a larger sign-and-trade deal. DeRozan has been in the league since he was drafted by the Raptors in 2009, and is currently in his 17th season.
DeMar would be the longest tenured NBA player on the Kings' roster if it weren't for Russell Westbrook. He was drafted the year before DeMar, and is now playing his 18th season. Between them, they'll have 35 seasons of NBA experience by the end of 2025-2026.
Turning the clock back with the Kings
Before the current season started, there were already a lot of questions about the Kings' aging roster. That conversation didn't get better when Sacramento signed Westbrook shortly before the season began. He definitely pulled that average age number up a bit.
As it turns out, that didn't matter. DeRozan is one of the Kings' most potent offensive threats. He dropped 33 points on the Blazers last night, shooting 62.5% from the field, 75.0% from three, and 100% from the charity stripe. Plus, he collected four rebounds, three assists, and two steals
Westbrook started as a backup point guard, but played so well that he took over as the starter. He proved why that was the right call once again in the game against the Blazers. He finished with 20 points, 10 assists, and three rebounds, adding another double-double to his incredible collection.
Age doesn't matter on the Kings
With a rebuild on the way, it's widely expected that most of the NBA veterans on the team will be on the trading block. Many of them, likely Zach LaVine in particular, are reportedly butting heads with head coach Doug Christie on a regular basis.
There's no sports scenario where that's a good thing, so the situation needs to change. It's quite likely DeRozan will be traded, assuming the Kings find a team or two to work with. Hopefully, Westbrook hangs around as he would be a good mentor to the young players joining Sacramento.
If DeRozan and Westbrook do end up leaving, that doesn't change the good work they've both done on the Kings. There are nights when both guys are playing like it's a decade ago. They've got everything it takes to still be considered elite players and first ballot Hall of Fame inductees.