Zach LaVine reflected on his relationship with Russell Westbrook, calling his former Sacramento Kings teammate “one of the best humans” he has met while praising the recently retired guard’s career.
“Russ is one of the best humans I’ve met. On the court, off the court,” LaVine said, via ClutchPoints. “The dude has an energy like you’ve never seen before.”
LaVine and Westbrook played together in Sacramento during the 2025-26 season, with Westbrook appearing in 64 games and making 58 starts. The veteran averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 42.7% from the field and 33.8% from three-point range.
For LaVine, the relationship stretches back much further. He entered the NBA in 2014, when Westbrook was already establishing himself as one of the league’s premier guards.
“I came to the league in 2014, a couple years later, I think he won MVP,” LaVine said. “It was hell trying to guard him when I was younger, especially when I was 19, 20 years old and he’s going straight downhill at you.”
Westbrook won the 2016-17 MVP award after averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double for an entire season and later became the NBA’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles.
LaVine said their relationship developed beyond their on-court battles, with the two players working out together and having numerous conversations over the years.
“We’ve had plenty of conversations and we’ve worked out together and played,” LaVine said. “But Russ is one of my good friends. My hat’s off to him for a hell of a career.”
Westbrook finished his 18-year NBA career with 1,301 regular-season games, averaging 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists. He made nine All-NBA teams, nine All-Star teams, won the 2017 MVP award and earned two scoring titles.
He also became one of the most prolific triple-double producers in NBA history, recording the statistical milestone across multiple teams and seasons.
LaVine believes Westbrook still had basketball left in him but appreciates that the veteran was able to decide when his career would end.
“He had a lot more to give to basketball too. He could have kept playing, but I’m glad that he walked away on his own terms because not everybody gets to do that,” LaVine said.
Westbrook’s final NBA season came in Sacramento, where he provided veteran experience alongside LaVine during a 22-win campaign. The Kings subsequently moved into a rebuilding phase, with DeRozan waived and several veterans departing in free agency.
LaVine remains with Sacramento after averaging 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 39 games last season while shooting 47.9% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range. His comments offered a personal perspective on Westbrook’s final season and a career that began with the Thunder in 2008 and ended 18 years later in Sacramento.
