Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Russell Westbrook, who will launch his 18th season next week, has signed with the Sacramento Kings, the club announced Thursday.

Westbrook, 36, played the 2024-25 season with the Denver Nuggets, averaging 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 75 games.

The Kings had been reported to be in contact with the nine-time All-Star since he became a free agent in June, after the Nuggets were eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Westbrook, who holds the NBA record for most triple-doubles with 203 and led the NBA in scoring in 2015 and 2017, joins his seventh team since being drafted in 2008 by the Seattle Supersonics, which became the Thunder.

He has also played for the Houston Rockets, the Washington Wizards, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.

In his MVP season in 2016-17, Westbrook averaged a league-leading 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists as he became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to average a triple-double over an entire campaign.

“Russell embodies the identity we’re striving for in Sacramento,” said Kings general manager Scott Perry.

“His resume speaks for itself and I’m excited to work with someone so accomplished, who is fully committed to competing and winning. We expect him to strengthen our point guard position and provide leadership both on and off the court.”