Russell Westbrook is poised to join the Sacramento Kings for the 2025-26 NBA season, making them his leading choice as the new team approaches training camp. With several potential options now narrowed down, the Kings have emerged as the most probable landing spot for the veteran point guard.
Why Sacramento Kings Are Seen as Westbrook’s Likely Next Team
League insiders identify the Sacramento Kings as Westbrook’s most likely destination, with expectations he would come off the bench and share playmaking responsibilities alongside new free agent acquisition Dennis Schröder. Sources strongly suggest that a return to Westbrook’s former teams Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets is improbable.
Westbrook, who will celebrate his 37th birthday early in the coming season, spent last year with the Denver Nuggets, marking his fifth team in six years. During that stint, he contributed solidly off the bench, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field, which earned him a seventh-place finish in the Sixth Man of the Year Award voting.
Westbrook’s Role in Denver and Subsequent Free Agency Status
Throughout Denver’s playoff run, Westbrook played an important role, although the team’s journey ended in a tightly contested seven-game series against the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Afterward, he entered free agency after declining his player option on June 30.
Despite undergoing two surgeries during the offseason to address breaks sustained in the previous season, Westbrook is projected to be fully fit by training camp. Reflecting on his career journey, Westbrook posted on Instagram,
“I am a force of nature. (Year) seventeen in the books. Thankful and grateful for the continued journey. Eighteen on the way.”
Evaluating Potential Teams and the End of the Oklahoma City Option
Though a return to Oklahoma City was once considered, the Thunder quickly ruled out pursuing Westbrook’s services. The team plans to honor Westbrook by retiring his No. 0 jersey, but they lack the roster space and interest to disrupt their championship-winning chemistry. ESPN noted the Thunder’s stance, saying,
“The Thunder will hang Westbrook’s No. 0 in the rafters after he retires, but the defending champion (doesn’t) have room on the roster, much less the rotation, or the desire to tinker with the chemistry from (its) title run.”
Other teams like the Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Atlanta Hawks were considered potential fits. However, Westbrook’s preference for joining a team in strong contention, along with Minnesota’s already established lineup, has made Sacramento a more suitable and attractive destination for him.
What Westbrook Brings to the Kings as the 2025-26 Season Approaches
Turning 37 soon, Westbrook offers Sacramento vast experience and unmatched tenacity on the court, traits that are valuable for a Kings squad aiming to strengthen its depth and competitiveness. The reunion would position Westbrook in a role that utilizes his skills without demanding starter minutes, while providing important veteran leadership.
As the NBA calendar advances toward training camp, the Sacramento Kings stand out as the primary candidate for acquiring Westbrook, signaling a potentially significant addition to their roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.