Russell Westbrook has never shied away from a challenge, and his latest stop in Sacramento is no different. The 36-year-old guard has officially joined the Kings on a one-year deal, and if his first media session is anything to go by, he’s bringing that trademark fire with him.
“It feels great, truly,” Westbrook told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Angelina Martin. “I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity to play and enjoy a place that wanted me to come here. So I’m grateful for that.”
After four months of uncertainty in free agency, Westbrook found his new home in Northern California.
“I don’t know how it all came together so quickly,” Westbrook said. “But obviously I have a lot of friends and guys I’ve played with on this team before. Not just that, but also an organization that [my agent] had been in contact with, trying to figure out ways to make it happen. With salary cap and all these different rules that I’ve come to learn… things just kind of meshed together that way. And I’m here now.”
Now entering Year 18, symbolized by the No. 18 he’ll wear in Sacramento, Westbrook is fully aware of the noise that surrounds him.
“To be honest, it’s really been like this my whole career,” he said. “It’s nothing new, unfortunately. I’m grateful and blessed for the doubt, the ‘if I can and will play.’ I know what I’m capable of when given the opportunity. So when the season starts, I’m going to do what I’ve always done and compete. There’s going to be people who love it. There’s going to be people who hate it. That’s life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident.”
The nine-time All-Star and former MVP averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds last season with Denver. But in Sacramento, he’s not just focused on numbers, he’s focused on impact.
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