Russell Westbrook found an NBA team after an offseason without one. He signed with the Sacramento Kings, who had been interested in him since the summer. This has caused an incendiary reaction, with Shannon Sharpe wanting to defend Westbrook.
As a former MVP, many found it odd that Russell Westbrook was having trouble finding a team for the 2025-26 NBA season. Now that he’s signed with the Sacramento Kings, he’s finally joined the team.
The California team has been interested in signing him since the 2025 offseason and finally confirmed the deal a few weeks before the start of the season. Like most news about Westbrook, this caused some big reactions, including Brian Windhorst, who called out the former MVP for realism.
That includes Westbrook’s rival-turned-friend Patrick Beverley, who was quick to blame the Los Angeles Lakers for the former MVP’s struggles. Shannon Sharpe, a prominent NFL player turned analyst, defended the Lakers against Beverley’s accusations.
Westbrook had an impressive season with the Denver Nuggets in 2024-25. Unfortunately, he wouldn’t have been part of that plan even if he had opted in for the final year of his Nuggets contract.
As a result, he was no longer the most attractive player and would have a hard time finding a team in the league. At 36 years old, he is an older player known for his athleticism, which is a big part of his game.
Thankfully for Westbrook, the Kings never wavered in their interest. Beverley believes Westbrook’s struggles stem from what happened during his stint in Los Angeles. He hasn’t played at the highest level and has received criticism, which Beverley believes is unfair.
Sharpe didn’t like Beverley’s comments because he always thought Westbrook couldn’t do the job with the Lakers.
“I’m just trying to understand how the Lakers are responsible? I said this is a bad deal. I said LeBron and Russ won’t work together. They both need Ball,” Sharp said in the nightcap.
“Ty Lue says, ‘I love Russ.’ Why didn’t they (the Clippers) sign him back? He declined his option with the Nuggets. He (Beverly) mentioned a 40 percent three-point percentage. Are we going to embrace an unusual season, or are we going to embrace what he’s done in the playoffs from the 3-point line, what he’s done in his career?”
“He’s prone to turnovers, he’s not a great shooter, he’s not a great defender. Yeah, he’s a high-energy guy and he’s always going to play hard, but at this point in his career, he’s not what he used to be.”
The Kings aren’t considered the most exciting team heading into the 2025-26 season. People don’t see them as Western Conference competitors. Westbrook could be a game-changer for the team because he is a culture changer.
With teammates like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings are loaded with talent. If they can fulfill their potential, the Kings could surprise some people.
Westbrook will likely play as a backup point guard to former teammate Dennis Schroder, so it could be game-changing if the former MVP’s name is called. Even if he ends up on a smaller contract again, Westbrook will use his elite mentality and play hard every time.