Free agent guard Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings have “strong mutual interest” in getting a deal done, ESPN says Shams Charania reported in Friday’s edition of NBA today.
“There is strong mutual interest between Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings,” Charania said. “And the Kings need a backup point guard. Last season they were 29th in bench points and 29th in bench assists.”
“Russell Westbrook helps with that, and he has relationships within that organization. Domantas Sabonis, who he’s close with, played with him. He also played with Dennis Schroder. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, they have ties to LA as well.”
Shams: There is strong mutual interest between Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings
Lists Russ’s relationships within the Kings org. He’s probably waiting there for a deal. pic.twitter.com/LnRCAeimwM
– ᴇʀᴀ 🕷️ (@theeestbrookera) October 10, 2025
“B.J. Armstrong, the new assistant general manager there, he knows B.J. Armstrong from the agency side, and he has respect for Scott Perry, their new general manager, and Doug Christie, their new head coach. We’ll see if a deal gets done before the start of the season or during the coming year,” Charania continued.
Westbrook, who turns 37 on Nov. 12, is a nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA member, a former league MVP and a two-time scoring champion who was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
The 6-foot-1 guard is the NBA’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles (203). He also averaged a triple-double in four of his seventeen seasons and led the league in assists three times.
Kings are likely the destination for Russell Westbrook
ESPNs Tim MacMahon reported in August that “league sources view the Sacramento Kings as the most likely destination for Westbrook,” adding that if the UCLA product signs, he would play a bench role like he did with the Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook was set to serve as a backup after Dennis Schroder signed a three-year, $45 million deal with Sacramento in June. The Kings would 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.
Additionally, Westbrook would join fierce guards Malik Monk, Zach LaVine and Keon Ellis in Sacramento’s 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 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 27.9 minutes per game while shooting 44.9% from the floor and 32.3% from deep.
Westbrook underwent surgery on his right hand in May to repair multiple ligament tears. The California native had a few fingers heavily taped during Denver’s playoff run.
The Kings visit the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 22 to open their 2025-2026 season.
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