Russell Westbrook Announces Retirement After 18 NBA Seasons
Former MVP and all-time triple-double leader Russell Westbrook said he is retiring, sharing a video narrated by Michael B. Jordan and reflecting on his 18-year career.
Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles and 2017 Most Valuable Player, announced his retirement on Wednesday, ending an 18-season career that included a selection to the league’s 75th-anniversary team. He posted a video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, writing, "Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over."
Westbrook entered the league as the No. 4 overall pick in 2008 after playing at UCLA, spending his first 11 seasons with the Seattle/Oklahoma City Thunder before moving to the Sacramento Kings for his final year. Over his career he led the NBA in assists three times, earned two All-Star Game MVP awards, and won an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.
He finishes with 209 career triple-doubles, the most in NBA history, and holds the single-season record of 42 triple-doubles set in 2016-17. In his last season with Sacramento, Westbrook started 58 of 64 games, averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 assists.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti praised Westbrook’s competitiveness and influence on the organization, saying his confidence and dedication have left a lasting impact on the community.