Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Dennis Schröder Recruited Russell Westbrook To Sacramento Kings

Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Dennis Schröder recruited Russell Westbrook to the Sacramento Kings, a league source told DallasHoopsJournal.

Westbrook, one of the best players in NBA history, is signing a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Kings, the source said. NBA insider Chris Haynes first reported the news about Westbrook’s contract details with Sacramento.

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 while shooting 44.9% from the field, 32.3% from beyond the arc and 66.1% from the free-throw line.

The 2017 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.

The Kings missed the playoffs last season for the second year in a row. They traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs and acquired LaVine from the Chicago Bulls in February.

This offseason, Sacramento acquired Schröder from the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade deal, traded Jonas Valančiūnas to the Nuggets for Dario Šarić and signed Drew Eubanks.

Westbrook is expected to come off the bench for the Kings, the source said.

DallasHoopsJournal’s Grant Afseth contributed to this report.