Russell Westbrook’s free agency has taken an unexpected turn: alongside persistent NBA interest, the Chinese Basketball Association’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers have emerged as a real possibility.
League chatter still puts the Sacramento Kings at the front of the NBA line, Dallas and Golden State have also been floated, but Xinjiang’s entry adds a compelling overseas alternative if an NBA deal doesn’t materialize on Westbrook’s terms.
Why Xinjiang makes sense: the CBA offers immediate starring minutes, the ball in his hands, and the chance to reset market perception with volume production and nightly highlights.
Xinjiang, one of the CBA’s most ambitious clubs, has a history of leaning into marquee imports and would likely hand Westbrook primary creation duties from day one. In a league where one import can tilt the title race, Westbrook’s motor, rim pressure, and playmaking would instantly make the Tigers contenders.
The timing also lines up. Multiple insiders have suggested Westbrook (and Ben Simmons) could remain unsigned when the 2025–26 NBA season tips, creating a leverage lull. Patrick Beverley called it “disrespectful” that Westbrook is still on the market; whether you agree or not, it’s clear the former MVP is choosing fit and role over grabbing the first midlevel-adjacent offer.
A short, lucrative CBA contract with an NBA out could keep him active, paid, and visible while the NBA board re-shuffles midseason.
The NBA pathways remain real. Sacramento has been linked to Westbrook as a sixth-man/second-unit catalyst, a role that preserves his usage.
For the Mavericks and Warriors, it’d be about selective minutes and matchup leverage: an injection of pace for Dallas lineups light on rim pressure, or a bench spark/defensive chaos agent in Golden State’s rotation. The Kings feel like the cleanest basketball fit, bench lead guard, 20–24 high-leverage minutes, second unit ownership, without asking him to be something he’s not.
Last season with the Denver Nuggets, Westbrook played 68 games and averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks in 28 minutes per contest. He shot 45.2% from the field, 28.6% from three, and 67% from the free-throw line.
Those numbers, while far from his peak MVP days, still reflect a productive two-way guard who can pressure defenses, push tempo, and provide secondary playmaking. He had multiple games with double-digit assists, several scoring bursts over 25 points, and remained a defensive disruptor in passing lanes.
Bottom line: Sacramento remains the most probable NBA landing spot, but the Xinjiang Flying Tigers are not a gimmick, they’re a viable lane that aligns with Westbrook’s desire to play big minutes on his terms. If the right NBA seat doesn’t open before tip-off, don’t be shocked if the next Russ triple-double goes up in Urumqi.
