Dwight Howard Urges Russell Westbrook to Make $12 Million Move

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 8:13 AM ET

Russell Westbrook supposedly received a big-money offer to play basketball abroad.
Dwight Howard encouraged Westbrook: “Go make that bag overseas and enjoy your life.”
Sacramento Kings are reportedly interested, but no NBA deal is finalized as of now.

When Russell Westbrook won the NBA MVP title in 2017 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he produced mind-boggling averages of 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.5 triples per game. That was the first time he averaged a triple-double in a season — a feat that he would repeat three more times in the next four years.

Hall of Fame center Dwight Howard did not win an MVP title during his 18 seasons in the league. He came close to doing so multiple times, though. In 2011, as a member of the Orlando Magic, he came second in the MVP race behind Derrick Rose after averaging 22.9 points on 59.3% shooting, 14.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game. Howard bagged the Defensive Player of the Year award that season for the third year running.

NBA legend Dwight Howard© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

While Howard’s last game in the NBA was in 2022, Westbrook is still hoping to return in 2025-26. Westbrook spent the previous season with the Denver Nuggets, but he opted out of the second year of his contract in favor of free agency, leaving roughly $3.3 million on the table.

Westbrook has not found a new team at this point in the offseason. The Sacramento Kings are reportedly the only team that has shown significant interest in the 36-year-old veteran, and it is clear that they are in no rush to sign Westbrook.

A recent article posted on NBA Analysis reported that Westbrook has received an offer to play in China. NBA Analysis estimates that Westbrook’s offer to play abroad is in the $12 million range for half a season.

Howard appears to have come across the article and decided to share it on Instagram, along with a message for Westbrook. Howard posted a video of himself relaxing at a beachside property, posting the headline of the said article: "Russell Westbrook could snub Sacramento Kings to follow Dwight Howard and Tracy McGrady's path with $12 million move."

“You should be in the NBA trust me I know how it feels ‍♂️ but go ahead go make that bag overseas and enjoy your life ” Howard captioned his post.

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A post shared by Dwight Howard (@dwighthoward)

Howard signed with the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan in 2022, where he reportedly earned over a million dollars . Two years later, the former Los Angeles Lakers champion became a part-owner of his own team, the Taiwan Mustangs, as well as the Asian Basketball League.

McGrady, a seven-time All-Star and a two-time scoring champion, also played overseas after his 16-year NBA career, including a stint in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2012.

As for Westbrook, the nine-time All-NBA guard averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes per game. He finished seventh in the Sixth Man of the Year vote. The new season does not start until Oct. 21, which gives Westbrook a little less than two weeks to find his next NBA team.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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