Russell Westbrook has officially retired from the NBA. As a basketball fan, it’s bittersweet to see the legends we grew up watching hang up their shoes and begin new journeys.
For 18 years in the league, Westbrook’s competitive fire never burned out. Drafted in 2008 by the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder), he and Kevin Durant quickly turned the franchise into a powerhouse. Together, they won four straight Division Titles (2011-2014), adding a fifth in 2016 (for the 2015-2016 season).
Once Durant joined the Golden State Warriors, ending the legendary duo, Westbrook was determined to put the team on his back. During a 2017 matchup, the point guard made it clear he wasn’t taking it easy on his former teammate. “I play the same way every night if it’s against Kevin or Detroit,” he told the Associated Press. “It don’t matter who it is. On the court I have no friends. The only friend I have is the basketball. That’s it. And obviously my teammates, but I go out to compete and guard and play at a high level. I’ve been that way since day one, and that’s what I do.”
That game, which aired on November 22, 2017, saw Russell near a triple-double as OKC defeated Golden State 108-91. He finished with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists.
There will never be another Russell Westbrook
In his final seasons, I noticed that Westbrook became the butt of social media jokes among NBA fans, but he never seemed to care, in my opinion. I’d see him in clips addressing a basketball situation, but never ranting on social media. I believe most of his energy went to showing up on the court. Westbrook played about 1,300 regular-season games, averaging 20.9 points per game. Here’s just a portion of what he’s accomplished:
NBA Most Valuable Player in 2017
All-time NBA leader in career triple-doubles
NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Teams he played for besides the Sonics/Thunder: Houston Rockets (2019-2020), Washington Wizards (2020-2021), Los Angeles Lakers (2021-2023), Los Angeles Clippers (2023-2024), Denver Nuggets (2024-2025), and Sacramento Kings (2025-2026)
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