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Let's make one thing clear.
Russell Westbrook is a shell of what he once was, which was a tornado of power, explosiveness, and tenacity. The former NBA MVP is, for all intents and purposes, one of the greatest basketball players ever. But even still, the 37-year-old point guard remains an effective player. He's barely a year removed from a renaissance of sorts with Nikola Jokić on the Denver Nuggets. He's only a few years removed from another Sixth Man of the Year-caliber season with the L.A. Clippers. And just last season, Westbrook was still a 15-6-5 player (albeit on an atrocious Sacramento Kings team).
Westbrook can still put up numbers. He can still contribute to winning ... in the right situation. He can still play.
But the rebuilding Kings reportedly aren't interested in seeing Westbrook bring his trademark chaos back to Sacramento for another season. According to Jake Fischer, the Kings seem pretty intent on moving on from the Westbrook experience:
Honestly, from the Kings' perspective, I get it. They're trying to start the Darius Acuff Jr. era in earnest. Westbrook might still be an effective player in spurts, but all he does is take up minutes and opportunities from other young players the Kings probably want to get more playing time for the future.
Still, you have to feel for Westbrook. He's been on one team for more than a single season just once since he left the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. Until the living legend is ready to hang his sneakers up, he's probably destined to sign one-year contracts indefinitely. But maybe he's OK with that, at this point.
This upcoming season will be his 19th. He can be one of the few players ever to reach 20 seasons if he decides to play that long.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Russell Westbrook embraces NBA mercenary role with 1-year deals
Continue reading...
Russell Westbrook is a shell of what he once was, which was a tornado of power, explosiveness, and tenacity. The former NBA MVP is, for all intents and purposes, one of the greatest basketball players ever. But even still, the 37-year-old point guard remains an effective player. He's barely a year removed from a renaissance of sorts with Nikola Jokić on the Denver Nuggets. He's only a few years removed from another Sixth Man of the Year-caliber season with the L.A. Clippers. And just last season, Westbrook was still a 15-6-5 player (albeit on an atrocious Sacramento Kings team).
Westbrook can still put up numbers. He can still contribute to winning ... in the right situation. He can still play.
But the rebuilding Kings reportedly aren't interested in seeing Westbrook bring his trademark chaos back to Sacramento for another season. According to Jake Fischer, the Kings seem pretty intent on moving on from the Westbrook experience:
Honestly, from the Kings' perspective, I get it. They're trying to start the Darius Acuff Jr. era in earnest. Westbrook might still be an effective player in spurts, but all he does is take up minutes and opportunities from other young players the Kings probably want to get more playing time for the future.
Still, you have to feel for Westbrook. He's been on one team for more than a single season just once since he left the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. Until the living legend is ready to hang his sneakers up, he's probably destined to sign one-year contracts indefinitely. But maybe he's OK with that, at this point.
How many NBA seasons has Westbrook played?
This upcoming season will be his 19th. He can be one of the few players ever to reach 20 seasons if he decides to play that long.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Russell Westbrook embraces NBA mercenary role with 1-year deals
Continue reading...
