Russell Westbrook addresses possibility of re-signing with Kings in free agency
Kings guard Russell Westbrook speaks to reporters during Sacramento's postseason press conference on Monday at Golden 1 Center.
Russell Westbrook addresses possibility of re-signing with Kings in free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Video Transcript
I, I imagine this is a, a, a little dramatic difference from what you thought this season could be to where it ended up.
As you just kinda reflect back, how, how do you kinda look at this season overall for, for you individually, what this team was, and how do you kinda see what the future could be?
Yeah.
I mean, honestly, I didn't have a job until a couple days before the season, so I had no expectations of what could be.
I was just blessed and thankful to have an opportunity to be able to, start another NBA season.
and obviously, as things unfolded here, trying to figure out the best way to, compete, be competitive, you know, given the late arrival for myself.
But, I feel good about how the year went, at least for me personally.
made it through healthy, so I'm blessed to be able to do that and get through a season healthy, especially at this age and years in the league, so grateful for that.
yeah.
Mark.
as far as with myself?
Yeah, I mean, I It's been great for me here.
if I'm welcome back, then I'll be back.
but that's not up to me.
it's kinda how it's been for me the last couple summers and seasons unfortunately, but, kinda see what happens at that point.
Martin.
Hey, Russ.
Good morning.
Morning.
When you kinda look at this season, like you were saying, y- you were brought in a few days before the season starts, and then the entire season kinda plays out how it does.
But for you personally, I mean, you had a really bright spot, one of the highest three-point percentage shooting in, in your, in your career, one of the highest.
I mean, then one of the parts that really stood out was just kinda y- your veteran leadership- Yeah and how you really took on that role.
When you kind of assess everything from this season and then kinda looking at what your future may be, when you think about Sacramento and kind of what you've been able to bring out for those young guys- Yeah how important or how much I mean, I know it's not in your control, but how much of that goes into, like, your processing wanting to be here and things like that?
I think leadership is probably for me one of my best traits, that I really enjoy the most because it, you can see it, you know, from year to year from young players years down the line.
I've had many players that I've been with come to me, you know, five or 10 years later and tell me moments that helped them throughout the process.
So anytime I'm able to have an opportunity to be able to do that, I look forward to it.
and if that's here, I embrace it and look forward to doing that, especially with, the young guys we have here.
Proud of how they ended the season, how they improved, given the time they was given, and I'm grateful for that.
Hey, Russ.
How are you?
Good, man.
Thank you.
earlier this year we asked you to maybe explain the celebration you have after you hit a three.
Yeah.
End of the season you said.
So I'm here to ask you, can you, can you explain to me the celebration?
Yeah, yeah.
Media day, I got you.
Excited for next year for that.
Second one is this: you have, you've had an illustrious career, played with a lot of great players.
Playing with DeMar DeRozan- Yeah was that special this year?
Yeah, definitely, man.
DeMar's like a brother, you know.
I've been knowing, We call him DeBo, but, been knowing, DeMar since we were little, you know.
so it's definitely, a grateful experience on many levels, not just on the court, but getting the opportunity to be able to bond and, talk off the floor, more than normal, which was great for me.
kinda made it obviously, as you mentioned, a memora- a memorable experience for myself and, you know, that's my brother for life, so we, we always locked in, so nothing, nothing changes there.
Well, Russ, I got two questions.
w- d- do you want to come back?
You just said something about media day.
Do you Is it okay to- Yeah, I wouldn't, I wouldn't mind coming back.
Yeah, like, I mean, I'm always Anywhere I'm wanted, I'm, I'm there.
You know, I wanna be able to be helpful, be productive.
but also I understand it's a business.
I've been around a long time, so I understand a lot of different moving variables for that, and that's out of my control.
My job is to be ready, be prepared, you know, and be ready to go.
And going back to, you know, what Marcus talked about, you know, with the, young players, 'cause they did show some segments last night of you, you know, coaching up the, young players on, on, on the sidelines and things like that.
Is this, you know, not trying to jump out, you know, too far ahead, is this something that, you know, you may be interested in in the future as far as, coaching?
Yeah.
Nah, man.
Listen, people every day always a- telling me I'm gonna be a coach, but I don't see it.
I don't wanna coach.
I coach my kids, so that's it, man.
I don't wanna coach, man.
I don't know.
I don't, I don't, I don't think so.
I'm gonna say no right now.
but, you know, my answer is no, though.
You know me.
But that's not That, that can change, I think.
Apparently to everybody else.
Russ, you're 18.
This year you and DeMar were kinda like dueling banjos, passing people on the all-time scoring list.
You had the rebound moment, he had the assist moment.
Have you had time to reflect on all of the accomplishments that you've, you've done, not just for your career, but even in this season alone?
No, not yet.
but like I said, during those moments I'm always extremely blessed and, and grateful to be able to do that.
being healthy, being able to have the opportunity to be able to go out and, and break some of those records or be in, mentioned with some of the great players is always, I'm always grateful for that.
Hey, Russ.Obviously a challenging season, but what are some things that maybe brought you joy this year around this team?
just being able to, I think any time you're able to have a, a new group of guys, for me, it's always a new challenge.
I, I like it because you- I'm have an opportunity to be able to learn about different players, learn about their journeys, learn about, what pushes them, learn about, you know, what inspires them.
And to me, that is the best part of the journey.
Being in this league, you get a chance to be able to meet coaches, players, personnel, staff members in, all different facets of life and you have an opportunity to be able to impact them, positively.
And, that to me is the best part about being, you know, an organization, and obviously this year, too.
Russ, you've been around long enough.
You've seen guys come and go in this league.
Yeah.
Curious what you thought about Max's development this year.
I thought Max did a great job.
I thought he, did a great job of listening, learning, watching, and, you guys seen how talented he is and his challenge now is just getting better each year.
That's the, that's the, the goal in this league is to be able to try to be consistent and be better each and every year and find the ways to be able to fine-tune his da- his game.
but I'm not worried about Max.
He works on his game.
He's, diligent in his work and, I'm looking forward to great things from him.
What was this year like for you, front row here on your left, interacting and being led by Doug Christie and Scott Perry?
What was your impressions of being around them this year?
Oh, they were fine, man.
They were great.
You know, like I told you, man, it was a little different.
This is the first time for me where I, I'm missing training camp and differences of that nature, so I, I had to kinda catch up on that aspect.
But as far as the relationship goes, relationship was fine.
I-I've known Scott some time, and obviously, getting the chance to know Doug was, was great and having a relationship with both of them was, was good for me, so I'm curious for you, like, you know, realizing the career, career accomplishments and obviously continuing to play at a high level, but also maybe the pull of, and maybe the hunger of wanting to do so on a, a winning team or someone, a team that can go deep into the playoffs.
What's that kind of balance for you as you look for potentially your next opportunity?
Yeah, I mean I mean, the balance is, to me is simple.
I think it's just given the opportunity, I'll go out and compete.
If that's when trying to go on a winning team, then cool.
But I also think it's something that, you know, I think as you get older, at least for myself, people pay too much attention to trying to get on with teams and try to Like, winning the championship is not guaranteed.
It's not like It, it's not up to me if ha- things have to align.
There's so many different things that have to align for you to be able to win a championship in this league, and I think you guys all understand that as well, and I think we just don't talk about it enough.
And personally, for me, I just think it's a lot of pressure putting on, you know, decisions you make and how you make them and where you go to try to win the championship.
Give yourself the best opportunity, but sometimes you can be in a position and it don't work out, and that's it.
So for me, it's just being in a place where I'm wanted, having fun, enjoying the game.
to me, that's what's important.
Hey, Russ.
throughout your career, the thing that has been synonymous with you is playing hard, never taking a play off, enjoying what you do.
Yeah.
In year 18, it was the same thing this year.
You know, you, definitely played with a lot of enthusiasm, joy, passion.
Where does that come from, and what keeps you inspired even after your 18th year to continue playing out there with that youthful energy?
Yeah, I mean, I, I learned at a young age, like, I don't take anything, anything this game has given me.
God has put me in a position to, to be here this long and, I don't take the game for granted.
I don't take being in this position for granted.
Like, it's, it's hard to, to get in this league.
It's hard to be in this league a good amount of time and, I like to cherish and enjoy those moments.
And, given this platform, I try to use the way I play, use, my energy and, and passion to be able to help inspire other people in walks of life.
And if that's sports, cool.
If there's other jobs that people may have and, and, and kids, I wanna be able to do that, by the way I play.
and I, I definitely take it personally to be able to make sure that my body and my mind is prepared to be able to do that every night.
And, you know, and as far as where does it come from, I mean, I just, probably just how I grew up, my neighborhood, where I'm from, it allows me to be able to understand that, th- there's things that's bigger than the game.
and the game is just a stepping stone to be able to, allow me to be able to, use as part of this journey, so Mark, go ahead.
Russ, I come to learn that Dylan Caldwell's locker is right next to yours, maybe by design though, but just want to know, you know, what that experience was like, you know, playing with him, knowing, you know, how he came through as a free agent.
Yeah, man.
it was, it was, it was, it was fun.
I, I love Dylan.
he reminds me a lot of just myself as far as energy goes and being able to do that, so I always challenge him, to use it.
He, he has a gift and, you know, for some people, they may look at it and not know what the hell's going on, or they may be like, "I don't know what's wrong with this kid" or, "What's happening?"
But I see it and I see It, it makes sense to me, like, this is what he does, and it- this is because, he has a, a unique talent that people can't You can't teach it, and you can't, like, put a finger on it or try to tame it.
and I really enjoy talking to him and, and enjoying that process, so my hope is that he continue to dial into that and the rest of his game will develop, but keep dialing into that energy and effort and, and making sure that his mind is, is right.
This is a two-part question.
Russ, to kind of looking back at your 18-year career, I mean, you've kind of done almost about everything in this league, right?
From, from perennial All-Star, MVP, you name it, to where you see yourself now as this, vocal leader from a veteran's, from a veteran's point of view.
From someone who's just kind of done everything, and I know you previously said it's not really in your control, but what really keeps you going at th- at this point?
that's one thing, and two, do you see yourself playing another, you know, to the 20-year milestone?
one, I think, you know, I have a bunch of people, around the world that support me, support me my entire career, and I also have a bunch of people that don't.
So I think the combination of both of those keeps me going, and most importantly my family, because those are the ones that's been with me since day one and been in my corner, regardless of what has happened throughout my career.
so that allows me to be able to keep going until I can't no more.
And then as far as 20th season, like I said, man, I, I, God's willing, opportunity presents itself, I'll play until then.
But, I'll take it year by year and hopefully, I'm still playing in 2020 whatever, 2028, I think that is.
So Appreciate it.
