UCLA alumnus Russell Westbrook has played for many NBA teams across his 17 years, but according to a recent ESPN article, NBA insiders say he will likely join another for the upcoming season, the Sacramento Kings.
The article brings up Westbrook not wanting to return to the Denver Nuggets and how the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder don’t have a need for bringing Westbrook back to his first professional team. The team that has been consistently talked about as his new home, the Kings, would have him join another Bruin, Zach LaVine.
“League sources consider the Sacramento Kings the most likely destination for Westbrook, who will turn 37 during the first month of the season,” Tim MacMahon wrote for ESPN. “If that’s the case, Westbrook would likely come off the bench again and share ballhandling duties with free agency addition Dennis Schroder.”
Having a 37-year-old Westbrook coming off the bench might not sound like a great idea to some, but last year he still averaged 13.3 points per game, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals, according to ESPN.
Westbrook will be in the NBA Hall of Fame one day. Having someone of that caliber on a retooled but talented Kings team could be exactly what they need. Pairing him with Lavine would also be entertaining for UCLA fans, enabling them to see two of their best ballplayers together, attempting to bring life back into the long struggling franchise.