Before the beginning of the season, the Sacramento Kings did what no other team would do and signed Russell Westbrook. Just over a year ago, there were people in and around the NBA who were calling for him to retire. Thankfully, he didn't because fans would have missed some great ball.
An NBA scout says the Nuggets should cut Russell Westbrook and believes he should retire
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 28, 2024
“They need to cut Russ. He can’t shoot. They have no spacing when he’s on the court. Teams are literally daring him to shoot and just crowding Jokic in the paint. And when he drives to the… pic.twitter.com/WVlHDMYDc7
Despite the fact that most of the players on the Nuggets seemed happy having Russell there, the general consensus around the NBA was that they should cut ties and he should retire. Most NBA analysts seemed to think Westbrook's best days were behind him.
Ultimately, the Nuggets asked Westbrook not to take his player option and leave the team. Accounts suggest he was a bit blindsided by this, but ultimately obliged, which made him a free agent. The next nasty surprise for Russell was that no other team wanted to sign him, a surprise for a former MVP.
It was the Kings who took the plunge and signed Westbrook to a one-year contract, which they really need to talk to him about extending. His game play for Sacramento has been elite, possibly some of the best ball he has played in years. And he has no plans on retiring any time soon.
Westbrook has proven to be integral to the Kings
Throughout the season, Westbrook has proven he still has what it takes to be considered a top player in the league. He has taken over as the starting point guard. He's made history multiple times. He continues to be one of the top scorers and playmakers the Kings have on the court.
During their recent three-game winning streak, he collected 56 points, 17 rebounds, and 28 assists. Westbrook had double-doubles in two of those three games. On top of that, he's 71st in the league in points per game, 47th in rebounds per game, and 11th in assists per game.
Time catches up with everyone eventually, but this is not a player who is on the verge of retirement. He certainly wasn't in October 2024 when that NBA analyst said Russell Westbrook isn't a good player anymore. In a way, that person was right because Russ is a great player, not a good one.
It's impossible to deny the positive impact he has had on the Kings. In particular, the rookie core has to be benefiting from having a 18 year veteran of Westbrook's caliber on the team. He may not be a King next season, but that will never change how great this season has been for him.