Russell Westbrook has discovered an NBA crew after an offseason with out one. He has signed with the Sacramento Kings, a crew that has been taken with him for the reason that summer season. This has led to incendiary reactions, which Shannon Sharpe needs to defend Westbrook for.
As a former MVP, many individuals discovered it weird that Russell Westbrook struggled to discover a crew for the 2025-26 NBA season. Now, he’s lastly with a crew after he signed with the Sacramento Kings.
The California crew has been taken with signing him for the reason that 2025 offseason, they usually have lastly confirmed the deal weeks earlier than the season begins. Like most information about Westbrook, this has drawn some huge reactions, together with Brian Windhorst, who offered a actuality examine to the previous MVP.
It additionally included Westbrook’s rival-turned-friend Patrick Beverley, who was fast guilty the Los Angeles Lakers for the previous MVP’s struggles. Outstanding NFL player-turned-analyst Shannon Sharpe has defended the Lakers from Beverley’s accusations.
Westbrook had a powerful season with the Denver Nuggets within the 2024-25 marketing campaign. Sadly, he wouldn’t have been a part of the plan even when he opted into his remaining 12 months of the Nuggets contract.
That led to him struggling to discover a crew across the league as a result of he was not essentially the most interesting participant anymore. At 36, he’s an ageing participant who has been identified to depend on his athleticism to be an enormous a part of his recreation.
Fortunately for Westbrook, the Kings by no means wavered of their curiosity. Beverley attributes Westbrook’s struggles to what occurred throughout his stint in Los Angeles. He didn’t play on the highest degree and was bombarded with criticism, which Beverley believes was unwarranted.
Sharpe dislikes what Beverley is saying as a result of he all the time thought Westbrook wouldn’t work with the Lakers.
“I’m simply attempting to determine how the Lakers are taking the blame? I mentioned it is a dangerous deal. I mentioned LeBron and Russ received’t work collectively; they each want the ball,” Sharpe mentioned on Nightcap.
“Ty Lue says, ‘I really like Russ’. Why didn’t they [Clippers] signal him again? He declined the choice with the Nuggets. He [Beverley] talked about 40 % from three. Are we going to take an outlier season, or are we going to take what he’s executed in his profession within the playoffs from the three-point line?”
“He’s turnover susceptible, he’s not an ideal shooter, he’s not an ideal defender. Yeah, he’s an power man, he’s going to play exhausting on a regular basis, however at this stage of his profession, he’s not what he as soon as was.”
Forward of the 2025-26 season, the Kings are usually not thought of essentially the most thrilling crew. Individuals don’t see them as a contender within the Western Convention. Westbrook might be a difference-maker for the crew, as he’s a culture-shifting participant.
With teammates like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Domantas Sabonis, the Kings are stacked with expertise. If they’ll understand their potential, the Kings may shock some folks.
Since Westbrook will probably play because the backup level guard to his former teammate Dennis Schroder, the previous MVP can change the sport when his title is known as. Even when he’s on a smaller contract once more, Westbrook will make the most of his elite mentality by taking part in his coronary heart out each time.
