Former league MVP Russell Westbrook finds a new home in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings days before opening night.
Russell Westbrook landed himself back in the NBA for an 18th season after he was signed by the Sacramento Kings just days before opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season on October 21, Tuesday (October 22, Wednesday in Manila).
The development was reported by known NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.
Westbrook, 36, last played for the Denver Nuggets for one season where he and the Nuggets reached the Western Conference semifinals before ultimately losing to eventual champions OKC Thunder in seven games.
Since leaving OKC in 2019, Westbrook has played with five teams in the span of six years when he became a free agent.
Now, with the Kings, the former MVP joins his seventh franchise overall in his basketball career.
According to Charania’s report, Westbrook has maintained communication during the offseason with the Kings, who are searching for depth in the guard position.
Though joining a new team, Westbrook does have bonds with the likes of Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine who will be his teammates in Sacramento.
On the Philippines’ side, he joins a Kings squad that has Fil-Am Jimmy Alapag as their player development coach.
In his stint with the Nuggets, Westbrook aceraged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steaks per game in 75 games that he suited up for Denver. He also started in 36 of those contests, averaging 27.9 minutes of action overall.
The Kings open their NBA regular season stint on Wednesday, October 22 (Thursday, October 23 in Manila) against the Phoenix Suns.
First, the Kings play a few more preseason games against other fellow California teams — the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers.
Coincidentally, Westbrook has played for both LA teams in his career.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.