The Sacramento Kings have had a rough start to the 2025-26 season as they have limped to a 3-11 record. They currently have the second-worst record in the Western Conference thanks to a combination of injuries and the second toughest strength of schedule in the league. It feels like they have played some variation of conference-leading Oklahoma City or Denver five times already and we are barely a month into the season.
One player however is keeping hope alive and the competitive fire of this team lit and that is former MVP Russell Westbrook. The veteran point guard was a late addition in the offseason and signed for a paltry $3 million but has been the Kings’ most consistent performers. He began the season in a sixth man role thanks to an injury to Malik Monk but has since displaced another veteran in Dennis Schroeder in the starting lineup.
Westbrook is having his best statistical season since 2022-23, averaging 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. He is shooting 43.6% from the field which is on par for his career average but has vastly improved from deep, shooting 40.5% from three compared to 27% and 32% the last two seasons.
We have talked about the Kings struggles from three-point range in recent weeks and they currently rank near the bottom of the league in attempts per game. Westbrook is taking more than 5 per game and perhaps should be attempting even more if he continues shooting at that level. He has also already recorded two of what are now his trademark triple doubles and fans have an opportunity to see him make history every night.
More important than the raw numbers is the energy and fire that Westbrook brings to the floor every night. For a team that is dealing with injuries to key players like Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray among others, it is hard to develop a consistent identity.
The 18-year veteran still plays with the same energy he did when he was 20-years-old and that has a radiating effect on his teammates. He is the type of player that can help a team set a culture of effort and hustle that ultimately leads to winning on a consistent basis.
The Kings roster may look quite different in the next few months with trades of key players likely to happen but Westbrook should be an untouchable piece. He is incredibly valuable on and off the court and can be the veteran presence that helps usher in a new era of Kings basketball.
