Russell Westbrook Retires After 18 Landmark NBA Seasons

Russell Westbrook, known for his exceptional career in the NBA, announced his retirement after 18 seasons. The decision came on Wednesday through a social media post, accompanied by a video narrated by Michael B. Jordan. Westbrook chose to remain silent in the video, letting the narration and visuals convey his message. He expressed his sentiments in writing, stating, “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.”

Westbrook, the 2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP) and leading triple-double holder, was initially drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008. Shortly after, the team relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Westbrook spent his first 11 seasons. His final professional year was with the Sacramento Kings.

Throughout his career, Westbrook achieved remarkable feats. He led the NBA in assists three times and claimed the title of All-Star Game MVP twice. His prowess extended to international play, where he secured an Olympic gold medal during the 2012 London Games.

Westbrook’s record-breaking achievements include 209 career triple-doubles and holding the NBA record for most triple-doubles in a single season with 42 in the 2016-17 season. His efforts during this period earned him his sole MVP award. His consistency saw him averaging double figures in points and assists in five of six seasons starting from the 2015-16 season.

During his career, Westbrook also played for several teams including the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers, sharing his 2022-23 season between the Los Angeles teams and Denver. He concluded last season by starting 58 out of 64 games for Sacramento, where he averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 assists per game.