Russell Westbrook Announces NBA Retirement After 18 Seasons
The nine-time All-Star and 2017 MVP announced his retirement Wednesday, closing out a career defined by relentless force, a record for triple-doubles, and a fan base as divided as it was devoted.
SACRAMENTO — Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the NBA on Wednesday, ending an 18-season career that made him the league's all-time leader in triple-doubles and one of its most electrifying — and polarizing — players.
Westbrook, 37, broke the news with a farewell video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, captioned simply: "And now it's over." The announcement came after he spent his final season with the Sacramento Kings, according to Sports Illustrated. He walks away with reported interest still on the table from both the Kings and the Washington Wizards, choosing instead to leave on his own terms.
A resume without parallel
A nine-time All-Star, nine-time All-NBA selection and the 2017 MVP with Oklahoma City, Westbrook finishes his career with 209 triple-doubles — the most in NBA history, well ahead of Oscar Robertson's 181. He ranks fifth all-time in assists with 10,351 and 14th all-time in scoring with 27,176 points, a combination of longevity and ball-dominant production few players in league history have matched.
"AND NOW IT'S OVER."
Drafted fourth overall by Oklahoma City in 2008, Westbrook spent 11 seasons with the Thunder, forming a dynamic — if ultimately unfulfilled — partnership with Kevin Durant that produced a trip to the 2012 NBA Finals but no championship. After Durant's 2016 departure, Westbrook carried the Thunder to three straight triple-double-driven MVP-caliber seasons on his own, becoming just the second player in NBA history, after Robertson, to average a triple-double for a full season.
His later career took him through Houston, Washington, the Lakers, the Clippers, Denver and finally Sacramento, with his relentless, downhill playing style drawing both acclaim for its intensity and criticism for its inefficiency as he aged. Tributes poured in from around the league Wednesday, with former teammates and rivals alike crediting Westbrook's competitiveness for redefining what a modern point guard's motor could look like, according to NBC Sports.
Westbrook's name is expected to be a lock for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible. The league has not yet announced formal tribute plans, though several teams, including the Thunder, are expected to honor him during the coming season.