Former LA Clipper and soon-to-be first-ballot Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook remains unsigned in NBA free agency. He’s coming off a season with the Sacramento Kings, where he averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds across 64 games. These are solid numbers, and on top of it being clear he is still a solid point guard, Westbrook mentioned it’s his plan to continue playing basketball at a high level in an interview with CNN.
Unfortunately for Westbrook, there is one problem: little to no teams around the league need a 37-year-old point guard who cannot shoot from beyond the arc consistently and effectively. This tough-to-accept reality contradicts the vision the former MVP has in mind, which may leave him unsigned for the foreseeable future.
Russell Westbrook might not land an NBA contract any time soon
Off the court, Russell Westbrook is as good as it gets. He is a phenomenal leader, great in the locker room, perfect for developmental purposes, and one of those players everyone loves to be around.
More importantly, though, is his in-game production. While Westbrook is still insanely athletic and a great playmaker, he is a below-average three-point shooter.
With the Sacramento Kings, Westbrook shot 33.8% from three on 5.9 attempts. That already doesn’t look too good, and to add insult to injury, this is the best percentage he’s shot over the course of a full season since 2016-17 with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he took home the MVP. That was nearly a decade ago, and even then, Westbrook shot just 34.3%.
In today’s NBA, where shooting threes at a high level is basically mandatory for point guards, Westbrook doesn’t fit.
Granted, he’s found ways to mask his greatest weakness, such as losing the defense by constantly moving off the ball, setting quality screens, and cutting to the basket. That’s essentially how he’s made it 18 years in the league.
Still, Westbrook is a player who can be easily played off the court once the right defensive scheme and coverage are in place. At that point, he is a liability, which is something teams cannot afford to spend money and use a roster spot on.
That said, it’s certainly an encouraging sight to see Westbrook maintain the drive and hunger to play in the later stages of his career. But, with how things are looking, a lot more time might pass before he’s signed to a team.
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