The Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement on a long-rumored deal with nine-time NBA All-Star and former MVP Russell Westbrook, adding veteran experience and depth at the point guard position.
Multiple sources told The Sacramento Bee that Westbrook is expected to sign with the Kings on Thursday. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that the Kings are signing Westbrook to a one-year, $3.6 million contract.
Westbrook is expected to join the team Friday when the Kings travel to Southern California to play the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason finale at Crypto.com Arena. He will have less than a week to get acclimated with the Kings as they prepare to face the Phoenix Suns in their season opener Wednesday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix.
Westbrook, 36, agreed to the deal for his 18th season in the league after months of discussions with the Kings. The 2017 NBA MVP had remained unsigned through the offseason before finalizing terms with Sacramento this week, his agent, Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
This will be Westbrook’s seventh NBA team since leaving Oklahoma City in 2019, following stints with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets. He played 75 games, including 36 starts, for the Nuggets last season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field.
Known for his high-energy style, Westbrook fits the Kings’ vision under general manager Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie. He should bolster a second unit that finished near the bottom of the NBA in bench production last season, ranking 28th in points and 29th in assists.
Over the past three seasons, Westbrook has come off the bench in 145 of his 216 games and placed in the top 10 for Sixth Man of the Year voting each year. He will serve as the primary backup to Dennis Schroder, joining a group that features Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis.
Westbrook, who will turn 37 in November, holds the NBA record for most career triple-doubles (203). He is one of only two players in league history - along with LeBron James - to surpass 25,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists.
Westbrook enters the season with 26,205 career points, just 506 behind Oscar Robertson for the most by a point guard. Westbrook ranks 20th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. DeRozan is 25th with 25,292 points.