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NBA Title Contender Out of Russell Westbrook Pursuit

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dean Koutouratsas | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 5:28 PM ET

The New York Knicks' pursuit of veteran guard Russell Westbrook might be ending early as another NBA franchise has shown considerable interest in signing the former All-Star guard, according to basketball writer Marc Stein.

Stein claimed that the Sacramento Kings have interest in signing Westbrook, while “New York is no longer regarded as a viable destination for the nine-time NBA All-Star.” The report comes as the Knicks showed interest in acquiring Westbrook on Monday.

Last season, New York nearly reached its first NBA Finals since 1999 but came up short in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, who defeated them 4-2. Furthermore, the Knicks front office was looking into adding more depth and leadership to their roster, which Westbrook could provide.

Sacramento remains interested in signing Russell Westbrook, league sources say, but New York is no longer regarded as a viable destination for the nine-time NBA All-Star.

Al Horford, furthermore, remains a leading target for Golden State as stated yesterday below. https://t.co/VK8y5x0lC3
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2025

However, they decided to go in another direction by signing guard Jordan Clarkson on Monday once he clears waivers after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the Kings are still in contention to sign Westbrook as they are looking to return to the postseason after finishing ninth in the Western Conference the past two seasons and losing in the play-in tournament.

Furthermore, adding a former regular-season MVP to their roster could help them develop their shot-creating and scoring abilities. Last season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game on 44.9 percent shooting from the field.

Westbrook is heading into his 18th season in the league as more of a role player after once being a perennial All-Star caliber guard for most of his career.

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

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