Russell Westbrook agrees to join Kings for 18th NBA season - ESPN

Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook has agreed on a deal to sign with the Sacramento Kings, agent Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management told ESPN.

Westbrook and the Kings maintained communication all offseason as the 2017 NBA MVP remained patient in free agency and now lands a deal for his 18th season. Westbrook has bonds with Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, history alongside Dennis Schroder in the backcourt and with assistant GM BJ Armstrong on the agency side, and shared respect for GM Scott Perry and coach Doug Christie.

Westbrook is expected to officially join the team later this week, sources said.

Westbrook gives Sacramento some much-needed backcourt depth as a point guard able to play as a starter or reserve. The Kings could use his bench presence, as the team ranked 28th in bench points per game and 29th in bench assists per game last season.

In his first season as Kings GM, Perry has made clear that the franchise wants a team culture of high motor and high effort — attributes that Westbrook has displayed over his NBA career.

In 75 games and 36 starts for the Denver Nuggets last season, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 44.9 percent from the field. Westbrook shot 52% on 2-pointers in 2024-25, the best in a season in his career.

Westbrook has come off the bench in 145 of his 216 games played over the last three seasons while finishing top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting in each year.

Westbrook, who turns 37 years old in November, has the most triple-doubles in NBA history (203) and is one of two players ever to play in the league to post 25,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists, along with LeBron James. Westbook has 26,205