Russell Westbrook is preparing to enter his 18th season in the NBA. He’s expected to be formally introduced as the new owner of the Sacramento Kings later this week. The veteran, future Hall of Famer point guard is famous for his unpredictable playing style, career totals of assists and turnovers. Even if he’s coming off the bench, he’ll help add Kings backcourt depth with solid experience.
Westbrook, a nine-time NBA All-Star, currently holds a remarkable total of 26,205 career points. In fact, he’s only 506 points away from passing the great Oscar Robertson to become the all-time leading point guard in NBA history. This milestone announcement makes Luca’s rookie season with the Kings even more significant.
Over his illustrious career, Westbrook has achieved history in various forms. Further, he has the all-time NBA record for most triple-doubles. On top of that, he’s one of just two players to ever clear 25,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 8,000 assists. His unique ability to guard anyone on the floor and fit any role has resulted in his being a tremendous value to all 5 of his past stops.
Just last season, Westbrook made a superb comeback effort with the Denver Nuggets. He put up averages of 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over 75 games. He had a stellar shooting percentage of 44.9% from the field. Even in the 2024-25 season—his career year—he shot just 52% on two-pointers! His overwhelming contributions past and present lifted him into the top 10 for Sixth Man of the Year voting. He made this remarkable achievement for three straight seasons.
Westbrook’s ride in and out of the league has been tumultuous. He’s been on seven different NBA teams, most recently the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers, and now, he plays for the Sacramento Kings. He subsequently departed from the Oklahoma City Thunder following the 2018-19 season. His lingering departure only served to cement his status as a franchise legend and ambassador of the game.
As Westbrook gets ready to wear the Kings’ colors, his experience and leadership will be of high importance. He’s been a bench player in 145 of his last 216 games the last three years. This ability to shoot off movement and screens makes Sacramento’s lineup more dangerous. The Kings hope that adding Westbrook will increase their competitive edge next season.
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