Russell Westbrook is still without a team as August rolls on, but he doesn’t sound like a player losing sleep over it.
In a recent interview with CNN, the former NBA MVP made it clear that free agency isn’t something he’s dwelling on. Westbrook said, “I don’t [think about it] honestly," and added, “I love playing basketball and if it happens, it works and that’s my plan.”
That calm stance comes at a time when his market has been slower to develop than many expected. Last offseason, the Sacramento Kings gave him a one-year veteran minimum deal when other teams passed, and he rewarded that gamble with a strong year. Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals per game, while knocking down 33.8% of his threes - the second-best mark of his 18-year career.
Even after that season, he remains unsigned with training camp now less than two months away. Still, there’s no sign Westbrook sees the situation as a problem. He sounds convinced the right opportunity will come.
The possibility of a return to Sacramento is still hanging out there. The expectation had been that Westbrook would move on this summer, especially after Kings GM Scott Perry believed he had outplayed a veteran minimum contract, which is all the Kings can currently offer. But recent reports have linked the two sides again.
If Westbrook is willing to take that kind of deal once more, the Kings would have reasons to consider bringing him back. Sacramento just used the seventh-overall pick on Darius Acuff Jr., and a veteran like Westbrook could be a useful guide for a rookie season. The Kings could also use another backup ball-handler, since their second unit does not have a true point guard.
For now, Westbrook’s next move is still unresolved. But after 18 years in the league, he has shown enough to keep earning chances, and he’s made it clear he’s not rushing the process.
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Kings Offense Has One Fix If The Beam Team Is Coming Back
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Now the path back is pretty clear: make more threes, and make defenses respect them. The Kings added new rookies and are counting on returners to help there, with Keegan Murray the most obvious swing piece because of the shooting he has shown before. If that perimeter touch comes back around, Sacramento has a chance to put real pressure on opponents again and give the rest of the roster more room to work. [Read more 🡒]