As the 2025-26 NBA season draws near, Russell Westbrook finds himself without a team. Despite earlier reports of interest from franchises like the Sacramento Kings, it appears the former league MVP has yet to secure a spot for the start of the season.
An intriguing possibility for Westbrook involves a return to the Houston Rockets. Such a move would address Houston`s urgent need for a veteran point guard, especially after Fred VanVleet`s recent torn ACL. More notably, it would reunite Westbrook with Kevin Durant, his former teammate from their days with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During a recent appearance on the `Up & Adams` show, Durant openly discussed the prospect of playing alongside his former Thunder colleague once more.
“Russ is a legend,” Durant stated. “I believe he truly deserves to be in the NBA right now, and he should have the opportunity to conclude his career on his own terms. Yes, a reunion would be pretty awesome. But it`s not my decision to make. That`s left to those in charge for now.”
Durant himself joined Houston this offseason, arriving via trade from the Phoenix Suns. His high-profile departure from Oklahoma City in 2016, when he signed with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent, was a significant event. Durant and Westbrook spent eight seasons together in Oklahoma City, notably reaching the NBA Finals during the 2011-12 campaign.
Since his initial trade from Oklahoma City to Houston in 2019, Westbrook, a former MVP, has played for five different NBA teams: the Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Denver Nuggets.
Last season with Denver, Westbrook participated in 75 games, starting 36 of them. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 rebounds over 27.9 minutes per game. For the second consecutive year, he finished seventh in the voting for Sixth Man of the Year.
Should Houston Pursue a Westbrook Reunion?
Houston significantly bolstered its roster this offseason by acquiring Durant from Phoenix. While the Rockets didn`t completely mortgage their future for the former MVP, the trade clearly signaled their intent to elevate a team that was eliminated in the first round of last season`s playoffs by the Warriors in a grueling seven-game series.
With VanVleet likely sidelined for the entire season, Houston faces a crucial decision regarding its starting lineup. Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Şengün are all strong candidates for starting roles on opening night. However, the fifth and final spot remains contested.
The Rockets could shift Thompson to handle more primary point guard duties, potentially opening up a starting position for Dorian Finney-Smith or Tari Eason. It`s also worth noting that coach Ime Udoka occasionally deployed a double-big lineup last season with Şengün and Steven Adams. Additionally, Clint Capela was brought in this offseason and is expected to be a key part of the rotation.
A more probable scenario involves Houston starting Reed Sheppard, their former No. 3 overall pick, at point guard. Sheppard, who played just 52 regular-season games in the 2024-25 season and also spent time in the G League, is considered a potential breakout candidate in his second NBA year.
VanVleet`s absence could accelerate Sheppard`s development trajectory. Bringing in Westbrook might allow Houston to ease Sheppard into a more prominent role. Given Westbrook`s recent history of coming off the bench for several seasons, it`s conceivable that Sheppard could still retain the starting point guard position even with Westbrook on the roster.
However, the most logical path for Houston might be to proceed into the season with its current roster, foregoing Westbrook. While losing VanVleet is a significant blow to their championship aspirations, a potential “Year 2 jump” from Sheppard, combined with Thompson taking on more ball-handling responsibilities, suggests the Rockets could be competitive whether Westbrook is added or not.
Ultimately, a reunion between Durant and Westbrook would undoubtedly stir nostalgia among basketball fans, a prospect that seemed almost impossible after Durant`s departure from OKC nine years ago. If Kevin Durant is genuinely open to the idea, it`s certainly a scenario Houston should carefully consider.
