The ball rises above the deck and Russell Westbrook goes after it. Moments later, the roles are reversed and Chris Paul gets his opportunity to finish. For 39 combined NBA seasons, plays like these came with defenders, packed arenas and something important on the scoreboard. This time, the basket is attached to a yacht and the only thing waiting beneath them is the water.
Westbrook and Paul have been enjoying a vacation reportedly off the Italian coast with their wives, Nina Westbrook and Jada Paul, as well as family members and friends. Paul shared footage of the alley-oops with the simple caption “Retirement…,” while Westbrook posted another angle to his Instagram Story accompanied by Forrest Frank’s song “HAPPY.” The NBA soon reposted the moment. The basketball remained, but everything that once made it feel like work had disappeared.
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In July 2019, Westbrook and Paul became the centerpieces of one of the biggest trades of their generation. Houston sent Paul, first-round selections in 2024 and 2026 and the rights to two additional pick swaps to Oklahoma City in exchange for Westbrook.
The Rockets reunited Westbrook with former Thunder teammate James Harden, while Paul landed on a franchise many expected to begin rebuilding after Westbrook’s departure ended an 11-year era.
Now Westbrook and Paul are passing the ball just for fun
Their stories did not unfold as anyone expected. Westbrook spent only one season in Houston before beginning a journey that took him through Washington, Los Angeles, Denver and Sacramento. Paul responded to doubts about his future by leading a young Thunder team to the playoffs, then helped Phoenix reach the 2021 NBA Finals. The transaction separated their paths, but it also connected their names forever.
Paul retired in February after 21 seasons as a 12-time All-Star and the second-leading player in NBA history in both assists and steals. Westbrook followed on August 12 after 18 seasons, leaving as a nine-time All-Star, the 2017 MVP and the league’s career leader with 209 triple-doubles.
Together, they produced 39 seasons, 21 All-Star selections and two careers destined to be remembered among the greatest point guards the game has seen.
Neither finished with an NBA championship. Westbrook reached the Finals with Oklahoma City in 2012, and Paul made it there with Phoenix nine years later. But aboard the yacht, there were no questions about missing rings, no trade rumors and no debate about what either man still needed to prove.
They were simply two friends taking turns passing the ball, attacking the rim and laughing with the people who had supported them through the longest years of their careers.
Seven years ago, Westbrook and Paul were exchanged as enormously valuable pieces of an NBA business deal. Now they are on the same boat by choice, setting each other up for alley-oops with no pressure and no result to worry about.