Rarely would you see NBA players gambling with their careers. Even LeBron James, after 2 decades, chooses not to, but Russell Westbrook did. Even after signing a two-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, he opted out of a $3.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season, choosing to test free agency instead. But after a quiet offseason, his gamble finally paid off when the Sacramento Kings handed him the keys to their locker room, and his friend DeMar DeRozan couldn’t be happier for him.

On Monday, Westbrook joined his first practice with the Kings, and DeMar DeRozan was all smiles, talking about the newest addition. “With the addition of Russ, we’re excited for sure. Everybody knows how close my relationship is to Russ. Russ is definitely a guy… That’ll be somebody that can definitely help us in many ways,” DeRozan said.

DeRozan further added, “To have him on the team is crazy. First ballot Hall of Famer, one of the greatest point guards of all time, the knowledge… Still, what he has left to give to the game, to be a part of that, is definitely energetic. It’s exciting to see him here.” This will be the 18th season for Westbrook, who spent his first 11 years with the Thunder before stints with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers, and, most recently, the Nuggets.

Last season in Denver, Westbrook showed he still has plenty left in the tank, averaging 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Russell Westbrook’s accolades tell the story of a player who’s never slowed down: two-time All-Star MVP, two-time scoring champion, nine-time All-Star, three-time assist leader, and the 2016-17 regular season MVP. And don’t let the mileage fool you, as he’s far from ready to hang up the sneakers.

Two simple words and a knowing smirk said it all about his retirement plans: “Yeah, right.” Westbrook doesn’t mind the chatter; it only fuels him, and DeMar couldn’t agree more: “Yeah, yeah. You gotta find fuel wherever you can, and that’s definitely one of them. To see those… lists they put out there, you definitely gotta get fuel from that, without a doubt.” Off the court, DeRozan and Westbrook have been close for years, even sharing the stage at a Kendrick Lamar concert last year.

That friendship gives Westbrook a sense of comfort on a team where others might not feel the same connection, at least, not yet. Ashish Mathur of Ahn Fire Digital reported Monday that some Kings players are a bit uneasy about Westbrook joining the team, given his history with crunch-time rotations. “Some members of the Kings are also worried about how Westbrook will react if he doesn’t finish games in the fourth quarter,” Mathur wrote.

But Russ is all smiles. “It feels great, truly. I’m blessed to be able to have the opportunity to play and enjoy a place that wanted me to come here. So I’m grateful for that… I have a lot of friends and guys I’ve played with on this team before…” Off the court, though, the buzz isn’t about basketball; it’s about a recent revelation Russ shared.

Inside the Lakers locker room drama

Russell Westbrook’s short time with the Lakers didn’t go as planned, and a new book by Yaron Weitzman digs into why. According to A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers, Westbrook grew frustrated with what he saw as LeBron James’ “fake” behavior. Westbrook felt LeBron acted supportive in public but differently behind closed doors, leaving him confused and irritated. He even admitted in 2021 that LeBron’s famous line “let Russ be Russ” didn’t feel genuine to him.

The breaking point came during a visit from actor Will Smith in early 2022. LeBron and Anthony Davis left the room before Smith arrived, while the rest of the team stayed. When Smith finally appeared, LeBron returned and seemed overly eager to impress the actor, stretching a short session into nearly an hour. Westbrook watched, shaking his head and rolling his eyes, later telling a teammate, “I hate that fake s—. I just can’t do it.”

The tension was real, and Westbrook wasn’t the only one noticing inconsistencies in LeBron’s behavior, from movie trivia to past media moments. The Lakers struggled on the court, starting the 2022-23 season 0-3, and the relationship reached a breaking point. Just four months later, Westbrook was traded to the Utah Jazz, officially ending his turbulent and short-lived stint with Los Angeles.

The story is a clear reminder that when two big personalities collide, clashes are almost inevitable. But maybe in Sacramento, things could be different; after all, Westbrook has friends on the Kings.