Russell Westbrook, one of the greatest Point Guards of all time, homecoming to the Sacramento Kings. At 36 years old, he’s still going strong and is about to start his 18th season in the NBA. The news comes just in time as Westbrook prepares to turn 37 this November. This incredible milestone marks his legacy in American basketball history forever. He’ll join the Kings officially later this week. His vast experience will be invaluable to the young team as they look to build backcourt depth for the future.
For anyone not familiar, Westbrook is the current all-time leader in triple-doubles in NBA history. He is one of just two players in NBA history to score 25,000+ points, 8,000+ rebounds and 8,000+ assists over their careers. His jaw dropping statistics further highlight his versatility, skill and defensive ability on the court. In the 2023-24 season, he shot a blistering 44.9% from deep. This after he led the league in 2023-24 with a career-high success rate of 52% on two-point shots.
The former Oklahoma City Thunder star, who left the franchise as a legendary figure after the 2018-19 season, is now set to play for his seventh team, following stints with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, and Denver Nuggets. On the floor last season with the Nuggets, Westbrook averaged 75 games played, including 36 starts. He averaged an incredible 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals over that span.
Over the last three seasons, Westbrook has found a home on the bench. He’s entered 145 of the 216 games in which he’s played as a reserve. He’s been quick to adjust to the new reality and still remains an influential force. Each season, he’s a top-10 player in Sixth Man of the Year voting. Whether he’s the one starting or coming off the bench, that versatility will be huge for the Kings’ backcourt.
It’ll make for an exciting homecoming, as Westbrook begins writing a new chapter with Sacramento. He’s not only bringing along a great statistician’s mind blessed with experience, but strong leadership. He has now tallied 26,205 career points. Now, he needs only 506 more 14-12s to pass Oscar Robertson and be the highest-scoring point guard in NBA history. His game-changing addition to the Kings will be instrumental as they try to increase their competitive advantage against the other 30 teams in the league.
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