Shams: Westbrook Agrees to Deal with the Sacramento Kings

[mkot]

In Denver Russ respect Jokic as the best player on the team, and in the World. He is willing to backup Jamal Murray because he also respect him as a champion, as a playoff riser. With the Kings, aside maybe Schröder the rest of the main guys are all unproven, he's probably thinking he is the best player on that team as a lead guard and it's going to be a disaster.

[1993Playoffs]

When would you guys say Russ transitioned from superstar to role player and why?

He has only averaged less than 10 field goal attempts per game in one season in his career and that was with the 23-24 Clippers. That lasted 11 games. 


Then he goes to Denver and is their 4th option with 11.1 attempts per game.


Now, he is going to be a King, and be a disaster for them, so has he really been just a role player yet? He has been a main option on all of these teams except for the Clippers. Maybe not a superstar but he hasn't been just a role player. 

True but at one point he stopped being a marquee player. Even when he was still getting triple doubles I felt like the shift was happening which is insane

[kwajo]

Derozan
Sabonis
Westbrook

Playing at the same time. LOLLOLLLLLLLLLL

And Lavine. Must watch TV.

Don't forget Schröder too, who can also go into tunnel vision/hero mode at all the wrong times.

[cpower]

hopefully sell more jerseys

[ball_takes23]

When would you guys say Russ transitioned from superstar to role player and why?

with the Clippers he started focusing on defense and contributing without the ball in his hands. he had a couple month stretch of above average defense

[Iwasawitness]

Good move for Sacramento.

How?

[Ballings7]

Going to be interesting in the respect of the bulk of the Kings perimeter roster. Question how he'll fit in comp. to a situation like Denver.

Russ'
DeRozan
LaVine
Monk
Schroeder

At least they have Keon Ellis and Keegan Murray though; also could see a trade happening later.

When would you guys say Russ transitioned from superstar to role player and why?

with the Clippers he started focusing on defense and contributing without the ball in his hands. he had a couple month stretch of above average defense

Correct. Russ' was known for defense coming out of UCLA, as well.. definitely has the ability to be an impactful, good defender.

[LuDux1]

They really needed rebounder with Murray out

I wrote this jokingly, but..

If you haven't already noticed ESPECIALLY with the timing of the signing, Russ plays the 4 now just like he did when Aaron Gordon was out. He is not a guard he's a small 4 that makes up for size with athleticism so

[BobbyPortisEyes]

Watch on YouTube

[BruttoNostra]

I know who is going to be a special guest here:
https://www.brickconvention.com/sacramento

SACRAMENTO BRICK CONVENTION is coming to Cal Expo in October 2025!

[davidv2001]

Good move for Sacramento.

But, why? The Kings already have Schroder, Ellis, Monk, Devin Carter and LaVine. Other than Carter, how do they find minutes for everyone without a trade for a wing/power forward?

Because he can be a game changer.

Are we talking in a positive or negative way, here? Westbrook worked with Jokic because he was able to not have the ball in his hands that much and became more of a slasher/cutter. He’ll have to function similarly with Sabonis for this to work in Sacramento, and he’s adding to their logjam of guards.

[Bad Bart]

I know who is going to be a special guest here:
https://www.brickconvention.com/sacramento

SACRAMENTO BRICK CONVENTION is coming to Cal Expo in October 2025!

Moved it from Cal Expo to Golden1 because so many people want to see the bricks.

[AdamSSSlither]

i loved watching every nuggets game last year and him playing w/ jokic was classic to see their 2 man game play better than jokic and murray after 8+years.
hated to see him leave but im a kings fan now.

Russell Westbrook has a career win percentage of approximately 74% in games where he records a triple-double.
His career record in these games is 150-53.

Westbrook has scored 26,205 points so far in his 17-year NBA career and just needs another 506 to
surpass Oscar Robertson as the highest-scoring point guard in NBA history.

living legend. his insane energy, effort, speed and maddness made him the most entertaining player to watch in his prime.

walt frazier said it best in-game when describing westbrook still on okc- "charismatic, acrobatic and dramatic"

[Pointgod]

That Russ, Sabonis, Schroeder, Derozan lineup is gonna be a crime against humanity.

[Clav]

Keep gettin' dem checks Brodie.... Kings have bigger questions to answer than a vet minimum for Russ. He helps in some ways generating offense -- especially for Monk and Lavine. He helps rebounding because most of the other guards are not tenacious there. They could feasibly play him at the 4 on offense. lol

Off the court maybe this team will find better chemistry because it is often noted that RW is a good teammate despite his erratic play. Also Sabonis was his teammate in OKC for a year, and McDermott too. Was Monk on the Lakers when Russ was there ?

[mkot]

i loved watching every nuggets game last year and him playing w/ jokic was classic to see their 2 man game play better than jokic and murray after 8+years.
hated to see him leave but im a kings fan now.

Westbrook is a better passer, way more athletic and overall a better player, but Jamal Murray is a more dynamic scorer. Murray has never made an all-star selection or all-nba team, Westbrook has made multiple all-star and is a future HOF candidate, but I'm not sure the Nuggets would even beat the Lakers in '23 if it was him instead of Murray. Anyway I digress.

I do think this is a good addition for the vet minimum as a backup point guard role. Westbrook can help the Kings base on the new culture and identity Doug Christie wants to established there. He wants the team to play hard, and Westbrook will always play hard.

[Anderson Hunt]

PG - Schroeder - Westbrook
SG - LaVine - Monk
C --- Sabonis - Saric
PF - DeRozan - (Westbrook)
SF - Ellis - (LaVine)

[nomansland]

Obligatory:

He was actually pretty good in Denver, especially considering what you get for the money. I didn't like him before he played for the Nuggets but now I have a lot of respect. He played hard and contributed. Sometimes the mistakes were loud, but the guy cares about winning, and most teams would benefit from him being on their team, especially for that contract.

[jokeboy86]

Eh I guess. Although when the Kings visit the Raptors this year it may be interesting cause I wonder will Drake be courtside in attendance.

[FarBeyondDriven]

it's so embarrassing. It shouldn't be this difficult to hire a basketball mind that wouldn't make moves like this. It's a fireable offense but unfortunately it was run through Vivek and he's too stupid to realize how bad it is so he just signs off on whatever his "expert" says he should. I have had one foot out the door as a King's fan for awhile because of b.s. like this. I'm slowly adopting the Wizards (I know lmao) as I appreciate their young front office and how they've conducted themselves and getting in on the ground floor is more legit than jumping on the bandwagon after they turn it around imo.