Latest Russell Westbrook Rumors, Landing Spot Buzz Update Kings' Stance on New Contract

Veteran guard Russell Westbrook remains an unsigned free agent deep into the summer, but a reunion with the Sacramento Kings for the 2026-27 season reportedly may not be off the table.

According to ESPN's Anthony Slater, the Kings are "open to a reunion" after Westbrook performed well last season in what was mostly a starting role, but they "are also understanding that Westbrook might not be as interested in playing a reduced role behind prized rookie Darius Acuff Jr."

The Kings used the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft on Acuff, and given their status as a rebuilding team, it stands to reason that they would want to give far more playing time for their potential future face of the franchise than to a 37-year-old player like Westbrook.

After mostly coming off the bench the previous three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets, Westbrook saw his role increase last season.

He started 58 of the 64 games he played in and averaged 29.0 minutes of action per game. He also averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 three-pointers made and 1.3 steals per contest, while shooting 42.7 percent from the field and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Given his strong showing, Slater noted that Westbrook "made it clear" that he has no plans to retire, and he is "looking for the correct situation to continue his career."

A nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection, two-time scoring champion and one-time NBA MVP, Westbrook is best known for his successful run with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2008 through 2019.

He has bounced around between six different franchises since then, but the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles has remained productive at essentially every stop.

A likely future Hall of Famer, Westbrook brings a wealth of experience and a diverse skill set to the table, and it seems likely that there will be a team willing to bring him in eventually.

Westbrook didn't sign with the Kings last year until October, which suggests he has a willingness to wait for the right situation to materialize until shortly before the season begins.