Breaking news in the NBA! Russell Westbrook, the superstar with nine All-Star appearances, has reached an agreement to join the Sacramento Kings. The news was confirmed by Jeff Schwartz, agent of Excel Sports Management.
Westbrook and the Kings maintained constant communication during the offseason, while the 2017 NBA MVP patiently awaited free agency. This agreement marks the start of his 18th season in the league.
Westbrook’s arrival in Sacramento is expected to be made official this week with a one-year contract for $3.6 million, under the veteran’s minimum salary.
The addition of Westbrook provides the Kings with valuable depth at the point guard position, as he can play both as a starter and off the bench. His presence on the bench could be key, especially considering that last season the team ranked 28th in points per game and 29th in assists per game from the bench.
In his first season as Kings general manager, Scott Perry has made it clear that the franchise is looking for a team culture based on intensity and effort, qualities that Westbrook has demonstrated throughout his NBA career.
In the past season, playing for the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 75 games, with a 44.9% field goal percentage. In addition, Westbrook had his best 2-point field goal percentage of his career, with 52%.
In the last three seasons, Westbrook has come off the bench in 145 of the 216 games he has played, and has finished in the top 10 in the Sixth Man of the Year voting in each of those seasons.
Westbrook, who will turn 37 in November, holds the record for most triple-doubles in NBA history (203) and is one of two players who have managed to accumulate 25,000 points, 8,000 rebounds, and 8,000 assists, along with LeBron James.
With 26,205 career points, Westbrook needs 506 more points to surpass Oscar Robertson as the point guard with the most points in NBA history. In addition, he ranks eighth in all-time assists and needs 75 assists to become the eighth player to reach 10,000 assists in league history.
Westbrook, who left the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2018-19 as a franchise legend, will play for his seventh NBA team, having played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, Nuggets and now the Kings.
