Russell Westbrook Stuns Fans by Declining to Sign Lakers Jersey—What’s Behind the Shocking Snub?

Russell Westbrook made it pretty clear the other night that his Los Angeles Lakers chapter isn’t one he’s eager to autograph — literally. As he lined up to sign jerseys during the Kings’ preseason face-off with the Lakers, he looked right past the purple and gold, choosing instead to pen autographs on Thunder and Rockets gear. You could almost see the unspoken distance from that part of his journey, etched in every skipped jersey. After all, Westbrook’s rollercoaster ride through LA was fraught with clashing styles and mounting critiques, a volatile mix that eventually saw him traded twice within a year. Now, fresh off a one-year deal with Sacramento, and boasting milestones like 200 career triple-doubles and over 26,000 points, Westbrook is stepping into a new arena — seasoned, perhaps a bit battle-worn, yet unmistakably ready to write an encore that’s entirely his own. LEARN MORE.

Russell Westbrook isn’t interested in revisiting his Los Angeles Lakers days — at least not with a Sharpie in hand.

At the Kings’ preseason matchup against the Lakers, Westbrook greeted a line of young fans holding jerseys from all the teams he played with across his NBA career. He signed two Oklahoma City Thunder jerseys, skipped over two Lakers ones, and then autographed a Houston Rockets jersey.

“I don’t know about signing that jersey,” Westbrook said. “I’ll sign something else for you, though.”

The clip surfaced shortly after Westbrook agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million free-agent deal with the Kings.

Westbrook’s journey to Sacramento has been a long and winding one. When he joined the Lakers in 2021, expectations were sky-high, but the fit quickly soured. Westbrook’s ball-dominant style clashed with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and his shooting inconsistencies became a lightning rod for criticism throughout the 2021-22 NBA season.

By February 2023, the Lakers dealt Westbrook to the Utah Jazz in a three-team trade — ending his turbulent stint in purple and gold. Utah bought out his contract within days, clearing the way for him to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the summer of 2024, the Clippers traded Westbrook to Utah once again in a sign-and-trade, and he promptly was waived. He then signed with the Denver Nuggets, where he continued to add to his historic résumé — becoming the first player in NBA history to record 200 career triple-doubles and later surpassing 26,000 career points.

Now 36, Westbrook joins Sacramento as one of the NBA’s most experienced and accomplished guards — and, judging by his reaction to those Lakers jerseys, a man ready to fully embrace his next chapter.

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