The Sacramento Kings aren’t expected to be very good in the 2025-26 season, but they do have a motley collection of talented veterans. Sacramento thought it was a good idea to rebuild the 2021-2024 Chicago Bulls for some reason by pairing Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan together again, this time with Domantas Sabonis at center. It was clear that the Kings badly needed some backcourt help late last season, so they responded by signing both Dennis Schroder and Russell Westbrook over the summer.
The Kings took on the Lakers on Sunday night in a battle of two 1-1 teams on the young season. Westbrook came off the bench for the Kings once again, and he was electric in helping Sacramento keep pace all night. The veteran guard finished with 18 points, six assists, and six rebounds in 27 minutes, including 4-of-6 shooting from three. It’s always fun to see Russ be Russ even in Year 18, and he gave us an amazing moment in the second quarter of this game.
Westbrook was pushing the bal in transition in the first half when he found only Lakers forward Jake LaRavia between himself and the basket. Westbrook hit him with a crossover, pointed at him in the middle of the play, and then converted the layup. This is pure, unfiltered Russ, and we love to see it. Watch the play here:
The alternate angle is even better. Westbrook’s MVP days are far behind him, but it’s still impressive that he can have this type of impact on a game when he’s on, even on the brink of his 37th birthday in Nov.
What other NBA player is giving us this type of entertainment?
Sadly for the Kings, this play happened in another loss. The Lakers beat Sacramento, 127-120, behind the first 50-burger of the season out of Austin Reaves. The Lakers didn’t have injured stars Luka Doncic or LeBron James in the starting lineup, but Reaves popped off for 51 points on 11 rebounds, and nine assists on 6-of-10 shooting from three and 21-of-22 shooting from the foul line.
The Lakers had 46 free throw attempts to 18 for the Kings. It’s hard to lose when you’re that dominant at getting to the foul line. There will probably be a lot of frustrating losses like this one for Sacramento this season, but their games will still be entertaining for moments like this one from Westbrook.
