Russell Westbrook Motivated By People Doubting Him And Sacramento Kings: ‘I’m Grateful And I’m Blessed For The Doubt’
Russell Westbrook spoke to Sacramento Kings reporters for the first time on Sunday and the NBA legend said he’s motivated by people doubting him and his new team.
Most NBA fans and pundits believe Westbrook and the Kings will struggle this season, which is why Westbrook has a big chip on his shoulder.
“To be honest, it’s really been like this my whole career, so it’s nothing new unfortunately,” Russell Westbrook said. “I’m grateful and I’m blessed for the doubt, the indecision, the if I can and will play. I know what I’m capable of when given the opportunity, and when the season starts, given the opportunity, I’m going to do what I’ve always done and go out and compete.
“There are going to be people who love it. There are going to be people who hate it. That’s life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident. I’m grateful to still be here standing and given the opportunity to go out and compete, so I’ll do the same thing I’ve been doing. And, yes, the chip is still on my shoulder, and it won’t go nowhere until I’m done playing.”
Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Dennis Schröder recruited Westbrook to the Kings, a league source told DallasHoopsJournal. Westbrook, one of the best players in NBA history, signed a non-guaranteed, one-year, $3.6 million contract with Sacramento, the source said.
Sabonis and Schröder were teammates with Westbrook on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Schröder also played with Westbrook on the Los Angeles Lakers.
LaVine and Westbrook went to UCLA, so they have a relationship off the court. Meanwhile, DeRozan and Westbrook are from California and have crossed paths several times in the offseason and at All-Star games.
Westbrook was an unrestricted free agent after declining his 2025-26 player option with the Denver Nuggets. The prevailing expectation since August was that Westbrook would end up with the Kings, the source said.
Westbrook played in 75 games for the Nuggets last season. The future Hall of Famer averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks.
The 2016-17 MVP with Oklahoma City, Westbrook turns 37 on November 12. He has played for the Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Nuggets. The veteran has the most triple-doubles in NBA history (203).
A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook has career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.3 blocks in 1,237 games. He has made nine All-NBA teams during his iconic playing career.
Westbrook is expected to come off the bench for the Kings, the source said.
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