Russell Westbrook’s retirement didn’t exactly feel like the final whistle to everyone around the league.
After last season with the Sacramento Kings, there had been a real sense that Westbrook might be back in the mix for another run there. Sacramento’s guard room is young, and on paper, a veteran like Westbrook made sense as part of that group.
The Stein Line’s Marc Stein reported on Aug. 3 that the Kings had “sounded Westbrook out about a possible second season with the Kings ... as they search for a veteran mentor to prized rookie Darius Acuff Jr. It remains to be seen if Westbrook, who did not sign with Sacramento last season until mid-October, would be amenable to coming back in a lesser role under coach Doug Christie than he had in 2025-26,”
Instead, Westbrook stepped away from the game.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over,” Westbrook posted.
The move caught plenty of people off guard across the NBA, especially because many believed he still had more basketball left in him. Westbrook’s legacy is tied most closely to his early years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and former All-Star Zach Randolph thinks the story may not be finished.
“This man is supposed to be in the league for another 3-4 years at least. I’d like to see him with the Heat.
Brodie got a lot left in him. I just saw his little brother yesterday Ray.
He might be back,” Randolph said.
If Westbrook does decide to return, there should be teams interested. He could still help a contender, and the idea of him taking a smaller deal to chase a playoff run is very much on the table. For the NBA, getting Westbrook back would be a welcome turn.
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Chet Holmgrens Growth Could Force A Tough Thunder Frontcourt Decision
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The longer view is where things get trickier. Oklahoma City is staring at future cap pressure as extensions and raises loom for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, which could force some hard roster math. That means Holmgrens growth as a physical big man may end up shaping how the Thunder think about their frontcourt balance, and whether they eventually have to consider tougher decisions than they expected when they brought Hartenstein in. [Read more 🡒]