Russell Westbrook was back on the floor for the Sacramento Kings last night, suiting up against the Memphis Grizzlies after missing three games with an injury. But for anyone expecting a vintage Westbrook performance-high-energy drives, relentless rebounding, and that signature fire-it just wasn’t there.
He struggled with his shot and, maybe more surprisingly, didn’t grab a single rebound. For a player who’s built so much of his legacy on sheer hustle and stat-stuffing effort, that zero in the rebounding column stood out like a sore thumb.
Now, let’s be clear: Westbrook’s résumé is still one of the most complete we’ve ever seen. He’s the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and ranks among the top 20 in career double-doubles.
His ability to impact the game in multiple ways-scoring, facilitating, rebounding-has never been in question. But last night served as a reminder that even the greats aren’t immune to time.
Before the injury, Westbrook had already been in a bit of a shooting funk. His volume was down, his efficiency was spotty, and the rhythm just wasn’t quite there.
That happens to every player at some point-slumps are part of the game. The only way out is through, and if there’s one thing we know about Russ, it’s that he’s never been afraid to keep firing.
But the zero rebounds? That’s where things get interesting.
Rebounding has always been one of Westbrook’s calling cards. He’s not a big man, but his rebounding instincts, timing, and sheer willpower have made him one of the best rebounding guards in NBA history.
He’s averaging 5.8 boards per game this season-down from his career average of 7.0-but still respectable. His career total sits at 8,963, not quite enough to crack the top 25 all-time, but an impressive number nonetheless, especially for a guard.
For context, this isn’t his worst rebounding season by any stretch. But when you remember that this is the same guy who averaged a triple-double in four different seasons-including three straight in Oklahoma City and one in Washington-it puts things in perspective.
During those years, he was pulling down nearly 11 rebounds a night. Last night, he didn’t grab one.
There are a couple of things at play here. First, he’s just coming off an injury.
Rust is real, especially for a player in his 18th season. Second, the game has changed for Westbrook.
He’s no longer the athletic force of nature who could beat anyone to the ball and explode to the rim at will. That’s not a knock-it’s just reality.
Father Time, as they say, is undefeated.
The Kings, of course, could use Westbrook at his best. They’re a team with playoff ambitions, and having a veteran like Russ playing at a high level can be a major asset.
But “his best” now isn’t going to look like the 2017 MVP version. It’s going to be about smart play, leadership, and picking his spots-knowing when to push and when to facilitate.
And that’s okay. Westbrook is still a valuable player.
He still has that edge, that fire, that drive to compete. But nights like this one are a reminder that we’re watching the final chapters of a remarkable career unfold.
The NBA is slowly saying goodbye to a generation of stars-LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant-and Westbrook is part of that same iconic group.
It’s not over yet, but the end is coming into view. And every quiet stat line, every off night, every game where the bounce isn’t quite there-it all makes that reality a little more real. Still, if there’s one thing we’ve learned watching Russell Westbrook over the years, it’s never wise to count him out.