Why is Westbrook's friendship with Kendrick Perkins strained?

Perkins, a former teammate of Westbrook's, has been critical of the former MVP's legacy and decision-making on ESPN programs, leading to Westbrook's wife, Nina, sending Perkins an angry text message defending her husband's legacy.

How much has Westbrook's salary declined?

Westbrook went from making over $60 million per year to now earning only $3-4 million per year, a significant decline in his NBA earnings.

Home / Sports / Westbrook's Tumultuous NBA Journey: From MVP to Backup

Westbrook's Tumultuous NBA Journey: From MVP to Backup

Q: What happened to Russell Westbrook's NBA career?

Westbrook, a former NBA MVP, has struggled to find a long-term home in recent years, bouncing from team to team in a backup role after leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder.

4 Nov

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Summary

Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook joins 7th NBA team in 9 years
Longtime friendship with Kendrick Perkins strained due to critical comments
Westbrook's wife angered by Perkins' comments on his declining NBA legacy

Westbrook's Tumultuous NBA Journey: From MVP to Backup

As of November 4th, 2025, veteran point guard Russell Westbrook has joined the Sacramento Kings, marking his 7th NBA team in the past 9 seasons. The former MVP, who once looked destined to be an Oklahoma City Thunder legend, has struggled to find a long-term home in recent years, bouncing from team to team in a backup role.

Westbrook's declining fortunes have also impacted his personal relationships, with his longtime friendship with former teammate Kendrick Perkins becoming strained. Perkins, who played alongside Westbrook in the early 2010s, has been critical of the former MVP's legacy and decision-making on various ESPN programs. This led to Westbrook's wife, Nina, reportedly sending Perkins a lengthy, angry text message defending her husband's legacy and accusing Perkins of disrespecting him.

The situation has only escalated, with Perkins revealing that his own wife also got involved in the heated exchange with Mrs. Westbrook. As a result, it appears unlikely that Westbrook and Perkins will maintain any public displays of friendship moving forward.

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