Oct 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Russell Westbrook hasn’t had a chance to practice with the Sacramento Kings yet, but he is ready to find ways to help the team and the organization in any way he can, he said Sunday during his introductory press conference. Westbrook, now in his 18th season, which is the number he will wear this season for the Kings, brushed off a question about whether this might be his last year in the NBA.
And he answered a question about what intrigues him the most about this Kings roster with: “The doubt that everybody has against us.”
There is plenty of doubt going on around this Kings roster, both locally and within the national landscape, but Westbrook, who confirmed he will play in Wednesday’s season opener against the Phoenix Suns, has dealt with doubt his whole career and embraces it.
He had this to say about Kings fans: “They’ve been loud. They talked a lot of mess to me when I was here, which is great. I take it as a compliment always. But now, being on the home side, I’m looking forward to feeding off their energy, feeding off my energy to get some wins out of it.”
And what is the one thing he wants the fan base and Sacramento community to know about him? That he is a human being.
“I think it’s very important that people understand that I strive to be the best I can possibly be, but I think we are human, we all make mistakes, we all do things. Everybody here made a mistake today, I don’t know what it was, but we did it. I think we’re all human, and I think understanding that and giving the grace that we give each other to me is more important,” Westbrook said.
Watch the full press conference below.