Former NBA Player Advises Russell Westbrook to Demand a Release From Kings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Mohammad Asif Ansari | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 7:30 PM ET

One of the greatest point guards in NBA history just took to a stage that looked nothing like he expected. Nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook is navigating a season in Sacramento that has seen the team fall to the very bottom of the Western Conference standings.

Westbrook joined the Kings on Oct. 15, signing a one-year, $3.6 million contract to provide depth behind Dennis Schroder.

Eventually, the high hopes for a triple-threat synergy with veterans DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine began to fade as the team plummeted to a dismal 12-44 record.

“How the hell are you there? Ask to be bought out or waived or cut,” said analyst Chandler Parsons during a recent segment of "Run It Back," an NBA show on FanDuel TV. “He doesn’t need the money. Like, get the hell out of there and go somewhere where at least you’re valued.

“Sacramento… a lot of these guys, they're two-way guys. They're not even going to be on the team next year anyway. The Kings would trade their entire team right now.”

The bench unit’s effort was described as a “disaster” following a humiliating 121-93 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, a game Westbrook did not play in. The Kings have a defensive rating of 120.8, ranking 28th in the league, according to Basketball Reference.

"If you're a guy like Russell Westbrook..." - Lou Williams

"How the hell are you there? Ask to be bought out or waived or cut." - Chandler Parsons

The Kings are not trying to win and it's "gross" @MichelleDBeadle | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/5mkCkDZGTw
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 12, 2026

Russell Westbrook’s Presence Serves as Testament to Longevity in NBA

Despite the struggle, Westbrook has hit a couple significant milestones this season. He passed Oscar Robertson on Jan. 2 to become the league's all-time leading scorer among point guards. On Monday, Westbrook scored 17 points to become the 16th player in league history to top 27,000 career points.

But there has been a physical toll as a right foot contusion sidelined the 37-year-old for three games in late January, further complicating his role in a rotation that was already shrinking.

Westbrook agreed to join the Kings one week before his 18th NBA season began. The NBA’s all-time triple-double leader joined the franchise after spending last season with the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook appeared in 75 games for Denver, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds.

The Kings finalized the move to solidify their rotation ahead of the season opener. But as the team's record has gotten worse, Parsons is far from the only person wondering how much longer Westbrook will be in Sacramento.

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

More must-reads: