Former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook has officially announced his retirement from professional basketball after an 18-season career in the league. The 37-year-old guard confirmed the decision on Wednesday through an emotional video posted to social media, narrated by Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan.
"Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end," Westbrook wrote alongside the video announcement. "You had to be there. And now it's over."
Historic triple-double records
Selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, right before the franchise relocated to become the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook spent his first 11 seasons as the heart and soul of the franchise. The Long Beach native delivered his defining individual campaign during the 2016-17 season with Oklahoma City, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1962 to average a triple-double for an entire season.
Westbrook set a record with 42 triple-doubles that year, securing the NBA MVP award. He went on to average a triple-double across three more full seasons, twice more with the Thunder and once with the Washington Wizards, cementing his status as the NBA's all-time triple-double leader.
Career accolades and statistics
Over his 18-year journey, Westbrook accumulated nine All-Star selections, nine All-NBA team honors, two scoring titles, and three assist titles. He was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team celebrating the greatest players in league history and earned a Gold Medal with Team USA at the 2012 London Olympics.
Following his tenure in Oklahoma City, Westbrook embraced shifting roles across the league. His career included stops with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and Sacramento Kings.
Westbrook finishes his career ranked 14th on the NBA all-time scoring list with 27,176 points. He also ends his career ranked fifth in all-time assists with 10,351 and 14th in all-time steals with 2,038.
