One season with the Sacramento Kings didn’t go the way that Russell Westbrook had hoped. Following his lone season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook looked forward to joining a roster full of veteran All-Stars, in hopes of making a playoff push.
Instead, Westbrook and the rest of the Kings’ roster cleaned out their lockers on Monday morning, after the team played its final regular-season game.
Where is Westbrook’s head at in terms of his future with the organization that brought him on over the offseason? The veteran guard made it clear that he’s not guaranteed to leave Sacramento, despite the shortcomings.
via Sean Cunningham, NBC Sacramento: “If I’m welcomed back, then I’ll be back,” Russell Westbrook on the possibility of returning to the Sacramento Kings next season.
Once again, Westbrook is set to hit NBA free agency.
What Happened With Denver?
The big question heading into the offseason is whether Westbrook showed enough to attract another contender or not.
In 2024, Westbrook joined the Denver Nuggets on a two-year deal, following his stretch with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The veteran guard signed a $6.7 million deal with the Nuggets. The first year was a $3.3 million salary, along with a $3.4 million player option for the second season.
Westbrook appeared in 75 games for the Nuggets. He shot 44.9% from the field and hit on 32.3% of his threes, producing 13.3 points per game. Westbrook also posted averages of 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game.
The Nuggets featured Westbrook in 13 playoff games. He posted averages of 11.7 points and 2.6 assists off the bench.
Although Westbrook had an opportunity to return to the Nuggets, the veteran guard went on record to state that the Nuggets made it clear he didn’t have a role for the next season.
“The truth is that they didn’t want me back,” Westbrook told reporters earlier in the season. “It ain’t up to me. God always has a plan. Be patient. Not up to me. They don’t want me. That’s okay. Somebody else do.”
That somebody else was the Sacramento Kings.
Westbrook’s Season In Sacramento
The future Hall of Famer went to the Kings with intentions of coming off the bench. He ended up starting in 58 of 64 games.
Westbrook averaged 29.0 minutes on the court. The veteran produced 15.2 points per game, along with 5.4 rebounds per game and 6.7 assists per game. He shot 42.7% from the field and hit on 33.8% of his threes.
With the Kings, Westbrook made $2.2 million for the year.