The Sacramento Kings do not have much to be happy about this season, as they have no realistic chance of competing for a playoff spot, and their current core will likely be broken up this offseason.
That is not to say there have not been a few bright spots, and one of them is point guard Russell Westbrook. Westbrook joined the Kings this past offseason on a one‑year, $3.6 million veteran‑minimum contract.
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He has far outperformed those expectations, providing consistent energy, playmaking and leadership for a young roster that has struggled to find stability. Over his last two games, the 37‑year‑old helped Sacramento win back‑to‑back home matchups against the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers.
Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18)© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
(© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
As Sacramento prepares for Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets, however, the team will be shorthanded. On the latest NBA injury report, the Kings announced that Westbrook is dealing with a right quadriceps contusion, immediately ruling him out for the contest.
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It is unclear whether he sustained the injury on Tuesday, but it marks yet another setback in a season where he has battled multiple issues. Earlier in the year, Westbrook dealt with a foot injury that sidelined him for stretches dating back to January.
His next chance to suit up will come Saturday against one of his former teams, the Los Angeles Clippers. Westbrook is currently playing for his seventh organization and has built an impressive individual legacy across 18 seasons in the NBA.
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He remains the league’s all‑time leader in triple‑doubles, adding five more this year in Sacramento, and his Hall of Fame credentials are undeniable as a two‑time scoring champion, MVP, nine‑time All‑Star and nine‑time All‑NBA selection.
The only thing missing from his resume is an NBA Finals win, and unfortunately that drought will extend another year with the Kings far out of contention.
Fortunately for Westbrook, he has no plans to retire anytime soon, and he remains a highly productive player. He is averaging 15.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 43.1% from the field and an efficient 34.3% from beyond the arc across 61 games.
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Even in a lost season for Sacramento, Westbrook continues to show he can impact winning whenever he is on the floor.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.