The Sacramento Kings are exploring experienced backcourt additions as they continue reshaping their roster around youth. According to Jake Fischer, the organization is considering bringing back Russell Westbrook while also evaluating Victor Oladipo as veteran mentors for No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr.
Fischer reported Monday that Sacramento is weighing “a return for Russell Westbrook, in addition to signing Victor Oladipo” as the franchise looks to surround Acuff with accomplished veterans entering his rookie campaign.
The insider added that the Kings were among several teams that observed Oladipo workout in Las Vegas during Summer League.
The approach aligns with Sacramento’s offseason direction following a 22-60 season that ended with the second-worst record in the Western Conference. After missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year, the Kings have shifted toward developing younger talent, headlined by the selection of Acuff with the seventh pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Westbrook is already familiar with Sacramento’s system after spending the 2025-26 season with the franchise. The 37-year-old appeared in 64 games, making 58 starts while averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 29.0 minutes per game. He also shot 33.8% from three-point range, his best mark since the 2022-23 season.
Despite no longer being an All-Star caliber player, Westbrook remained an effective playmaker. His 34.3% assist percentage ranked 11th in the NBA last season, underscoring his ability to organize an offense and create opportunities for teammates. Those traits could prove valuable for a rookie point guard adjusting to the NBA.
Westbrook also brings one of the league’s most decorated resumes. The former NBA MVP is a nine-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion and three-time assists leader. Across 18 NBA seasons, he has averaged 20.9 points, 8.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds in 1,301 career games.
Oladipo represents a different type of veteran option. Although injuries dramatically altered the trajectory of his career, the 34-year-old has experienced both stardom and adversity at the NBA level.
His peak came with the Indiana Pacers during the 2017-18 season, when he averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and an NBA-leading 2.4 steals per game. That season earned him his first All-Star selection, the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, All-NBA Third Team honors and a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.
Since suffering a serious quadriceps injury in 2019, Oladipo has struggled to regain that level. He last appeared in the NBA during the 2022-23 season with the Miami Heat, averaging 10.7 points in 42 games before missing the entire 2023-24 campaign because of injury. He spent the 2025-26 season with the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League.
