Zach LaVine mirrored on his relationship with Russell Westbrook, calling his former Sacramento Kings teammate “top-of-the-line people” he has met whereas praising the recently retired guard’s profession.
“Russ is among the finest people I’ve met. On the courtroom, off the courtroom,” LaVine stated, by way of ClutchPoints. “The dude has an vitality such as you’ve by no means seen earlier than.”
LaVine and Westbrook performed collectively in Sacramento through the 2025-26 season, with Westbrook showing in 64 video games and making 58 begins. The veteran averaged 15.2 factors, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists whereas capturing 42.7% from the sphere and 33.8% from three-point vary.
For LaVine, the connection stretches again a lot additional. He entered the NBA in 2014, when Westbrook was already establishing himself as one of many league’s premier guards.
“I got here to the league in 2014, a pair years later, I believe he received MVP,” LaVine stated. “It was hell attempting to protect him after I was youthful, particularly after I was 19, 20 years previous and he’s going straight downhill at you.”
Westbrook received the 2016-17 MVP award after averaging 31.6 factors, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. He turned the primary participant since Oscar Robertson to common a triple-double for a complete season and later turned the NBA’s all-time chief in profession triple-doubles.
LaVine stated their relationship developed past their on-court battles, with the 2 gamers figuring out collectively and having quite a few conversations over time.
“We’ve had loads of conversations and we’ve labored out collectively and performed,” LaVine stated. “However Russ is one in every of my good associates. My hat’s off to him for a hell of a profession.”
Westbrook completed his 18-year NBA profession with 1,301 regular-season video games, averaging 20.9 factors, 6.9 rebounds and eight.0 assists. He made 9 All-NBA groups, 9 All-Star groups, received the 2017 MVP award and earned two scoring titles.
He additionally turned one of the prolific triple-double producers in NBA historical past, recording the statistical milestone throughout a number of groups and seasons.
LaVine believes Westbrook nonetheless had basketball left in him however appreciates that the veteran was capable of determine when his profession would finish.
“He had much more to offer to basketball too. He might have stored taking part in, however I’m glad that he walked away on his personal phrases as a result of not everyone will get to try this,” LaVine stated.
Westbrook’s last NBA season got here in Sacramento, the place he offered veteran expertise alongside LaVine throughout a 22-win marketing campaign. The Kings subsequently moved right into a rebuilding part, with DeRozan waived and several other veterans departing in free company.
LaVine stays with Sacramento after averaging 19.2 factors, 2.8 rebounds and a couple of.3 assists in 39 video games final season whereas capturing 47.9% from the sphere and 39.0% from three-point vary. His feedback provided a private perspective on Westbrook’s last season and a profession that started with the Thunder in 2008 and ended 18 years later in Sacramento.
