Russell Westbrook is still a free agent after leaving the Denver Nuggets at the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Nuggets decided not to renew the point guard’s contract despite providing a valuable 13 points, five rebounds, and six assists per game off the bench.
Westbrook has since been linked with the Sacramento Kings, but they probably need to part ways with one of their existing players first.
NBA fans have now weighed in on whether he should ditch the Kings and return to the Oklahoma City Thunder instead.
Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the OKC Thunder and probably remains their greatest player ever, despite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading them to a title recently.
Thunder fans have far more love for the 2017 MVP than former teammate Kevin Durant, who left them for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
However, that does not necessarily mean they would like Westbrook to return to OKC for the 2025-26 season.
A fan wrote: “I love Russ, but if he were on the team, he would need to take a minimum contract and be ok with playing a maximum of 10 minutes per game. Likely less than that.”
Another said something similar: “Love Russ, but I love OKC too. He wouldn’t fit in well. However, I wouldn’t mind them bringing him to OKC for a vet minimum and letting him just mentor and get occasional mins.”
“The only way I could see it happening is he returns on a Vet Minimum, and sits on the bench,” one commented.
“A Russell Westbrook retirement should be the goal here,” read a brutal comment. “He wouldn’t provide any benefit to that team (or any team tbh),” were some more harsh words.
One fan asked: “Why would the world champion team want an old guy who has to have the ball to play well?”
Besides the awkward basketball fit, Westbrook has even less reason to join the OKC Thunder now that even his most loyal fan base has doubted him.
The veteran point guard should instead focus on finalizing his move to the Kings this offseason.
The Kings’ roster is messy, to say the least. They already have a plethora of guards and no space for Westbrook at all.
However, Dennis Schroder is the only recognized playmaker on the team, so if they find some minutes for him, Westbrook would be a valuable addition.
Not to mention, the 36-year-old grew up in California and would be able to relocate to the West Coast.
