Russell Westbrook remains without an NBA team, but the former MVP insists he is not allowing the uncertainty surrounding his future to consume him.
More than a month into free agency, Westbrook has revealed he remains interested in extending his decorated career into a 19th season—provided the right opportunity emerges.
“I don’t think about it, honestly,” Westbrook told CNN journalist Elex Michaelson when asked about remaining unsigned.
“I love playing basketball, and if it happens, it works, and that’s my plan.”
The comments were reported by BasketNews as speculation continues over whether the 37-year-old has played his final NBA game.
Westbrook searching for the right opportunity
Westbrook became an unrestricted free agent after completing his one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings.
The nine-time All-Star remains determined to continue playing but is reportedly looking for a situation that offers a meaningful role.
Sacramento is understood to be open to bringing Westbrook back for the 2026-27 season. However, the Kings’ selection of guard Darius Acuff Jr. with the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has complicated a potential reunion.
Acuff is expected to receive significant playing time as Sacramento begins planning for the future, potentially leaving Westbrook in a reduced role behind the rookie.
Whether Westbrook would accept that arrangement remains unclear.
He did not sign with Sacramento until October 16 last year, meaning his current status is not entirely unfamiliar. That late deal ultimately allowed him to play his 18th NBA season.
The Sporting Base covered Westbrook’s original one-year move to Sacramento and how the Kings became the seventh franchise of his career.
Westbrook remained productive with Kings
Despite his age, Westbrook produced respectable numbers during the 2025-26 season.
He appeared in 64 games, starting 58, and averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in 29 minutes per game.
Westbrook shot 42.7 per cent from the field and 33.8 per cent from three-point range while adding 1.3 steals per appearance.
Those numbers suggest he can still contribute at NBA level, particularly for a team requiring ball-handling, transition scoring and rebounding from its backcourt.
The larger question is whether a club can find a role that suits both Westbrook and its existing roster.
His game remains most effective when he controls the ball and attacks at pace. Teams with established primary creators may instead be searching for reserve guards who offer more consistent shooting and off-ball production.
One anonymous NBA scout recently delivered a brutal verdict on Westbrook’s suitability for the Miami Heat, claiming he would not fit into a structured system.
However, that was the opinion of one evaluator rather than a league-wide explanation for Westbrook’s lack of offers. Read the scout’s complete assessment of Westbrook’s remaining NBA value.
Is retirement becoming a possibility?
Westbrook has given no indication that he intends to retire.
He reportedly remains focused on finding the correct situation rather than accepting the first available offer, and his comments to Michaelson made it clear that his desire to play has not disappeared.
Westbrook’s résumé guarantees his place among the most accomplished guards in NBA history.
He won the league’s MVP award in 2017, has earned nine All-NBA selections and remains the NBA’s career leader in triple-doubles. His 203 triple-doubles place him ahead of Oscar Robertson on the all-time list.
Since leaving Oklahoma City in 2019, however, Westbrook has played for Houston, Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, Denver and Sacramento.
His production is no longer the primary concern. Teams must decide whether his playing style, expected role and veteran status fit their plans.
Westbrook is one of several notable players still searching for a contract, as detailed in The Sporting Base’s ranking of the biggest remaining NBA free agents.
For now, Westbrook appears willing to wait—just as he did before joining Sacramento last season.
