Westbrook may leave the NBA next season! Renowned journalist reveals his tough situation: the Kings are his only possible destination.

On August 21, Beijing time, according to NBA reporter Jake Fischer, Westbrook could potentially depart from the NBA next season, with the Kings being the sole team interested in acquiring him. Westbrook had earlier turned down his player option with the Nuggets for the 2025-26 season, becoming a full free agent.

“We’re still waiting to see if the Kings will make other moves before trying to acquire Westbrook,” Fischer stated. “All along, the Kings have been viewed as the most likely landing spot for Westbrook, and earlier this week I heard that if he stays in the NBA, Sacramento is his top option. To be honest, it’s the only team we’ve heard about as a possibility.”

In other words, if the Kings ultimately decide not to sign Westbrook, he may bid farewell to the NBA next season. There have already been reports suggesting that it wouldn’t be surprising if Westbrook remains unsigned once the new season begins.

During the 2024-25 season, Westbrook played 75 games for the Nuggets. The future Hall of Famer averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, while shooting 44.9% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range, and 66.1% from the free-throw line.

In the first round of the 2025 playoffs, the Nuggets defeated one of Westbrook’s former teams, the Clippers, in a seven-game series. They then lost another seven-game battle in the second round to the Thunder, another of his previous teams.

Westbrook won the regular season MVP award in 2017 while playing for the Thunder and will turn 37 in November. Over his career, he has played for the Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers, and Nuggets. He has recorded 203 triple-doubles, the most in NBA history to date.

A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook has averaged 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game over 1,237 career appearances, and has been named to the All-NBA Team nine times throughout his career.

The Kings failed to make the playoffs last season. They traded De’Aaron Fox to the Spurs and acquired Zach LaVine from the Bulls. This offseason, the Kings picked up Dennis Schröder from the Pistons in a sign-and-trade, sent Jonas Valančiūnas to the Nuggets in exchange for Dario Šarić, and signed Drew Eubanks. Previous reports indicated that Westbrook’s potential move to the Kings depends on a possible sign-and-trade involving Kuminga; if guards like Monk remain on the roster, the Kings are unlikely to pursue Westbrook.

Will this energetic guard still be seen on the NBA court next season? Let’s wait and see.