According to Shams Charania of The Athletic via Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, Russell Westbrook has agreed to a deal with the Kings â bringing the former MVP and California native back to his home state to join one of the NBAâs most revamped rosters.
After declining his $3.5 million player option with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook reunites with former teammate Domantas Sabonis and links up with fellow Southern California stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan in Sacramentoâs new-look core.
A Homecoming Move That Makes Sense
Westbrookâs move to Sacramento has been weeks in the making. Charania reported earlier this week that there was âstrong mutual interestâ between the two sides, noting the Kingsâ need for bench scoring and playmaking after finishing 29th in assists and 7th-worst in bench points per game (26.3) last season.
Most of that production came from Malik Monk, who averaged just over 17 points per game. But beyond him, the Kings lacked consistency from their reserve guards â a problem Westbrook directly addresses.
âThereâs a need for a reserve point guard in Sacramento,â Charania said on NBA Today. âRussell Westbrook helps with that.â
The veteranâs ties across the organization only strengthened the fit. Heâs close with Sabonis from their Oklahoma City days, has L.A. roots alongside DeRozan and LaVine, and holds mutual respect with new GM Scott Perry, assistant GM BJ Armstrong, and head coach Doug Christie. Local radio insider Carmichael Dave even called the move â70/30 likelyâ before it became official.
Reviving the Kingsâ Pace and Backcourt Depth
Westbrookâs impact on tempo is well-documented. The Nuggets were one of the leagueâs slowest teams before his arrival in 2023â24 (26th in pace). With him, they jumped to 8th, boosting their scoring average to 120.8 points per game, third-best in the NBA.
Thatâs exactly the kind of jolt Sacramento has been missing. The Kings finished 19th in pace last season despite having a frontcourt centerpiece in Sabonis who thrives in transition. Westbrookâs ability to push the ball, collapse defenses, and create for others will complement the teamâs high-efficiency scorers.
This signing also provides something the Kings have lacked since reshaping their roster: stability at the point guard position. With Westbrook, Dennis Schroder, and rookie Devin Carter, Sacramento suddenly has a balanced rotation of ball-handlers who can orchestrate the offense and attack defenses in multiple ways.
Christie now has flexibility. He can start either Westbrook or Schroder alongside LaVine, DeRozan, and Sabonis, while the other operates as a true offensive threat off the bench. That two-guard rotation allows Sacramento to maintain offensive rhythm across all four quarters â a luxury they didnât have a year ago.
Experience Meets Opportunity
At 36, Westbrook is no longer the nightly triple-double machine he once was, but his intensity, pace, and leadership remain unmatched. In 75 games with Denver last season, he averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds while shooting 44.9% from the field.
His reunion with Sabonis could quietly be one of the more productive storylines of the season. Their chemistry in Oklahoma City was strong, and the Kingsâ motion-based system under Christie fits Westbrookâs strengths â quick reads, downhill attacks, and short-roll playmaking.
The Kings, looking to return to the postseason after getting a taste of two seasons ago, now bolster their backcourt with hopes to take a leap forward in the Western Conference in their first full season under Doug Christie as head coach.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Russell Westbrook Agrees to Deal with the Sacramento Kings appeared first on Heavy Sports.