ESPN’s Shams Charania reported in The Sporting News on Friday that free agent guard Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings have a “strong mutual interest” in working out a deal. NBA Today.
“There is a strong mutual interest between Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings,” Charania said. “The Kings need a backup point guard. Last season they ranked 29th in bench scoring and 29th in bench assists.
“Russell Westbrook helps with that, he has connections throughout the team. Domantas Sabonis, who is close to him, plays with him. He also plays with Dennis Schroder. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, they’ve been linked to Los Angeles as well.”
Shams: Strong mutual interest between Westbrook and Sacramento Kings
Rath’s connections within the Kings organization were mentioned. Most likely a deal is waiting there. pic.twitter.com/LnRCAeimwM
—ᴇʀᴀ🕷️ (@TheWestbrookEra) October 10, 2025
“BJ Armstrong is the new assistant general manager there and he knows BJ Armstrong from the agency side and he does respect their new general manager Scott Perry and their new head coach Doug Christie. We’ll see if a deal gets done before the season starts or within the upcoming year,” Charania continued.
Westbrook, who turns 37 on November 12, is a nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, former league MVP and two-time scoring champion, and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The 6-foot-4 guard has the most career triple-doubles in the NBA (203). He also averaged a triple-double in four of 17 seasons and led the league in assists three times.
Kings most likely Russell Westbrook destination
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported in August that “league sources identified the Sacramento Kings as Westbrook’s most likely destination,” adding that if the UCLA product signed, he would play a backup role, much like he did with the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook will serve as a reserve player after Dennis Schroder signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Sacramento Kings in June. The Kings will also be Westbrook’s sixth team in the past seven seasons.
Since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, he has played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and most recently the Nuggets.
In addition, Westbrook will join guards Malik Monk, Zach LaVine and Keon Ellis in the Sacramento backcourt. The Kings traded star guard De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs last season.
In 75 games (36 starts) with the Nuggets last season, Westbrook averaged 27.9 minutes per game, scoring a career-low 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals. He shot 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three-point range.
Westbrook underwent surgery on his right hand in May to repair multiple torn ligaments. During the Denver playoffs, the California native had several of his fingers heavily wrapped around him.
The Kings will open the 2025-26 season on October 22 against the Phoenix Suns.
