Sacramento Kings coach Doug Christie on Dec. 27, 2025, talks about his expectations for guard Keon Ellis during a news conference before his played the Dallas Mavericks. By HECTOR AMEZCUA
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook eclipsed another NBA icon on the career leaderboard in Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Westbrook posted 21 points, five rebounds and nine assists in a 113-107 victory over the Mavericks at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. With his second assist of the game, Westbrook passed Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson for seventh on the NBA’s all-time list for career assists.
“Passing Magic, it’s an honor,” Westbrook said. “Magic is one of the greats.”
Westbrook, who was born in Long Beach and grew up in the shadow of the Inglewood Forum when the Lakers were playing there until 1999, went on to praise Johnson for his contributions to the Los Angeles community.
“Yes, Magic did a lot of great things on the court, but growing up in inner city Los Angeles, Magic did a lot for the underserved and continues to do a lot, something that I’ve kind of modeled,” Westbrook said. “For him, that is something that I’m grateful to be able to pass him because he’s such a legend in so many different ways, and I’m grateful to be passing him now.”
Westbrook, 37, is a former NBA MVP and a future Hall of Famer with nine All-NBA selections and nine All-Star appearances. Now in his 18th season after coming out of UCLA as the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA draft, he is the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 207 and ranks first all-time among guards with 8,889 rebounds. He is 15th in NBA history in steals (2,000) and 17th in total points (26,659).
“The longevity, the 20-20-20 games and MVPs,” Kings coach Doug Christie said, marveling at Westbrook’s accomplishments before Saturday’s game. “Just the things he’s been able to accomplish, just getting to know him, a kid from the inner city. A lot of us have that inner city story of basketball saving us in many ways, but just watching him go about his business every day, that may be one thing you don’t know about anybody until you get with them, and all of a sudden I’m watching how he goes about his business.”
Christie, who was a four-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection during his 15-year playing career, credited Westbrook’s work ethic and dedication to the game.
“It’s no mistake that you’re about to pass Magic Johnson, which is out of control by the way, because that’s Magic,” Christie said. “But as someone who, I was a thief from time to time, 2,000 steals is a big number, so the utmost respect for how he goes about his business, and it’s truly, truly an honor to coach great players.”
Westbrook went into the game needing only one assist to tie Johnson’s mark of 10,141. He matched that figure when he passed to Keon Ellis for a 3-pointer early in the first quarter and surpassed it on an assist to rookie center Maxime Raynaud with 10:16 to play in the opening period.
“It’s an honor to coach Russ,” Christie said. “I’ve been a fan of his even when I was on radio and stuff and people used to call in. Because it’s a polar thing. Either you love him or you hate him. I was on the side of just loving everything he was about. First of all, the competitiveness is off the charts. … He’s on that edge and I’m totally with that.”
Kings guard Keon Ellis said Westbrook has been a strong locker room influence since signing with Sacramento less than a week before the season began.
“Russ is really down to earth,” Ellis said. “That’s the first thing that stuck out to me. The day we signed him and he was in L.A., he was just real energetic, real talkative. He was talking to everybody, from the staff to all the players, to make sure everyone’s good and we were locked in.”
Christie said Westbrook has been undervalued and underappreciated as one of the great players of his era.
“I’ve always kind of thought that about Russ because people would be so critical about his style of play, but he truly believes in himself,” Christie said. “He works his butt off on his game and on his body. He watches film. He’s a pro, so he wants to win more than anything, and that’s where you see that nastiness at, and I’m all for it.
“His ability to go out on a night-to-night basis and compete the way he does says so much about him as a professional. I think his teammates really, really respect that because sometimes he’s one the bringing energy in Year 18, and it’s fun to watch.”