Head coach Doug Christie is making a significant change to the Kings‘ rotation on Friday in Minnesota, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reports (via Twitter) that Russell Westbrook will replace Dennis Schröder as the starting point guard.
Westbrook has actually started six of his 12 appearances this season, largely being used as a small-ball forward alongside Schröder with Keegan Murray recovering from thumb surgery. Schröder had started each of his 12 games this fall.
Christie said after both Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s losses that he was considering making changes to the starting lineup.
Schröder, 32, was Sacramento’s primary free agent addition over the summer — the team signed the veteran guard to a three-year, $44MM deal. He had an excellent offseason, winning MVP of EuroBasket 2025 after leading the German national team to its second gold medal in three years (the club also won the 2023 World Cup).
However, Schröder has gotten off to a slow start for the 3-9 Kings, particularly struggling during the team’s current four-game losing streak. Over the past four games, the Kings have been trounced during Schröder’s 100 minutes, and he’s averaging just 3.5 points and 4.3 assists while shooting 4-of-27 from the floor (14.8%) over that span.
Westbrook, meanwhile, didn’t sign with the Kings until mid-October, inking a non-guaranteed one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum. He has outplayed Schröder to this point in the season, averaging 14.5 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.8 APG and 1.0 SPG on .440/.397/.758 shooting (27.8 MPG).
KANGZ.
Didn’t the Kings watch Dennis Schroeder‘s time with the Warriors?
I guess Steve Kerr and Warriors management weren’t the only ones fooled by Schroeder‘s international performance. This goes to show how amazing the NBA really is.
He played well for Detroit though.
And didn’t they see Westbrook’s with the Nuggets? He’s a good rebounder and passer, but his knack for making key mistakes and his poor 3 pt shooting end up devaluing his contribution to winning.
That said, he’s outplayed Dennis so far in everything but ast/to ratio, so I understand why desperate coach Christie made the change.
Sabonis numbers, well scoring are down. DeRozen, LaVine, Dennis and Russ, hhhmmm. Can’t for the life of me figure out why? Sabonis with Fox very briefly bought good times back to Sacramento. Now Sabonis is surrounded by me guys. Professional stat hunters, not winners.
Sabonis belongs on a ball club with a much better outlook than Sacramento. It’s time to go play under some brighter lights. Ask out and he’ll end up in Brooklyn or Washington. Sabonis deserves better, he’s a baller.
100% agree, Kings were looking good for a minute and ever since have just gone backwards and it doesn’t look like anything is changing really. Doug Christie can complain about the defence all he wants but you don’t have the right guys for the roles.
Some sabonis trade ideas
Sabonis for Zion Williamson, Yves Missi and a protected first
Sabonis for Gobert and Dillingham
Sabonis and Saric for Joel Embiid and a protected first
@ Simmons-Russ. Send him to Boston lol. Yeah, I’m dreaming. Philly would be legit with Sabonis and more importantly without Embiid. Phillies young guys are all good off the ball and can shoot it. Sabonis is a fantastic passer out the post and in any high low action.
The Philly idea is… not crazy? Forget the pick, or rather send one Philly’s way. Vivek gets the bigger name, Morey gets the winning player.
@ Bargzz…my personal opinion is a pick needs to be attached to Embiid, damaged goods. Sabonis is the better player at this point.
Every team thinks theyll be the one to unlock Schroeder…instead its their opponents who constantly seem to figure him out.
Only in the Nepo Basketball Association
?
Schroder cookin NBA superstars in FIBA basketball.
You can call Westbrook a “small-ball forward”, a 2-guard, a wing, a wide receiver, a defensive back, or whatever… Westbrook is gonna dominate the ball regardless of what you call him – and no point guard is gonna play well with him…
because they don’t get to be a point guard!
They end up getting the ball at the end of the shot and have to shoot grenade 3’s, or force a drive to the basket and shoot a low percentage floater.
I feel even worse now for Doug that things are so bad that you have to name Russell Westbrook your starting point guard… in 2025
Westbrook is playing well right now. Ki gs should just sign him let him retire here. They will never get a better deal for a starting PG. Trade Schroder sign Russ for 25 mill two yrs. Till Carter is ready.
In 28 mins he’s putting up 14.5 pts. 6 ast. 6 reb.
.40% 3pt, .475% 2pt, .76% FT.
Carter will never be ready. The only stats that matter are W and L. Westbrooks stats are empty calories, just like three of his team mates. Why don’t the knicks sign Russ?
I was hoping they would. Only thing empty is your knowledge. You can like who you want. I guess he plays by himself. Carter is a high draft pick ….
Why don’t you explain to is why he will never be ready ???? Please
@KnickAl
He’s a 6’2″ prospect that’s proven he can’t shoot, 24%/18% so far and after playing 11 min/gm as a rookie is down to 8 min on a 3-10 team.
He’s a classic 13th draft pick bust.
Al is the smartest man in the room, until he opens his mouth. Carter is also sticky taped together. You left that part out. Absolute BUST.
This is what I mean about haters. Carter is the 13th pick in 2024 draft. He played 36 gms last year and 11 mins a game. Yet he’s already a bust. I hope none of you clowns have kids.
Smart has nothing to do with wanting the truth. All you do is judge. Without even researching your OWN HATE. Then want to call me names. Cause I actually do the research to give an intelligent take. I don’t just talk out my Aaa all the time like the haters. Sad part is you don’t even get that. It’s not important to you. Sad and true
So you think you got answers about a draft talent after 40 gms. Carter had left shoulder surgery. Then hurt the other shoulder later. So basically blew off the year. Devin Carter is 23 yrs old. Thought to be more NBA ready at draft. Injuries derails anyone. Don’t let that stop you from hating. LMAO
He was a 10 and 9 guy in college. Reason he got drafted higher is cause his three pt shooting improved dramatically. And is considered an elite defender athlete. And Kings need a PG. no one is saying he is nest CP3. But I unlike you haters. Don’t kill a talent after 40 gms. How can you possibly be basketball fans. You should be banned from here forever.
Read his scouting report and learns something. Try rooting for young men to make it inLife. Instead of always rooting for them to fail in Life.
I like him as a prospect. Russ can mentor him. And Carter could be ready in a year or two. I apologise for rooting for a young man
Try reading now …….. NBA scouting report .
link to nba.com
washington-bonecraft !!!!!!! where you at lol.
You gonna let these haters trash your draft pick lol
Gotta be real here Al – they’re probably right.
@KnickAl
Agree he’s playing well “right now”. But there’s no reason to think that a career 30.7% three pt shooter is going to sustain his current 39.7% from three.
He’s productive at age 37 at the vet min, but there’s reasons why the Nuggets didn’t want him – what kind of deal do you think the Kings should sign him to?
Logical, Westbrook still is light years better than Schroder… and a lot of the guards in the league!
Westbrook, Monk, Lavine, Derozan, Sabonis… I’m not sure how this would be measured, but that must be the ball-hoggiest lineup in history
Don’t forget Schröder.
If you put those guys on one Team, you can’t expect anything Else than all of them underachieving.
And they will continue to suck
Keon Ellis is the one they should be finding more minutes for. Outside of K. Murray, who I think is injured, he’s the only person on this team truly interested in playing on both sides of the ball
I get most don’t like Westbrook. And he is hard to adjust to on some teams. It’s why Nuggets let him go. Yet in Sacramento where they have issues getting star players or good players to stay. You would look at Westbrook game today. In a different way, just consider his game. Most haters just jump on the Westbrick bandwagon. And can’t see past that. Genius vision imo ……
Westbrook is approaching historical grounds next couple of yrs. On that alone he would be worth it to all teams. With Kings waiting on Carter. And Westbrook playing well. I guess it’s just too easy to see. I sure would keep him here. Two years is nothing.
Where will you find a minimum salary player. Who is a future HOFer. About to redo the record books next few yrs. And puts up triple doubles. Who wouldn’t want that. Only the HATERS here.
Against Minny — 31 mins, 13 pts, 10 reb, 14 ast
He recorded his 10,000 career ast. Becoming only the eight player to do that. He joined LBJ as only TWO players in 25K points and 10K ast CLUB.
Like I said earlier. Haters are not basketball fans. They want failure and negative takes. While the players they hate on REWRITE History …. hate on
link to x.com
link to yardbarker.com