SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Russell Westbrook, a dominant force in the NBA and the 2017 MVP, revealed on Wednesday that he is retiring after 18 seasons. Westbrook, known for his incredible tally of triple-doubles, was also honored on the league’s 75th anniversary team.
The two-time scoring champion announced his decision through a social media video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, in which Westbrook himself remains silent. He conveyed his emotions in writing, saying, “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
Westbrook began his professional basketball journey when he was chosen as the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, shortly before their relocation to Oklahoma City. His early career saw him spend 11 seasons with the Thunder. Most recently, he played for the Sacramento Kings during the past season.
Throughout his career, Westbrook gained significant recognition by leading the NBA in assists three times. He was also named the MVP of the All-Star Game twice. Additionally, he achieved international success by winning an Olympic gold medal during the 2012 London Games.
With an impressive 209 triple-doubles, Westbrook departs from the league holding the record for the most in NBA history. His final triple-double came on March 15. Nikola Jokic follows him with 198 as of the start of this season. A standout moment in Westbrook’s career was during the 2016-17 season when he set an NBA record with 42 triple-doubles, which coincided with his MVP season. Over a span of six seasons beginning in 2015-16, he consistently averaged double figures in both points and assists.
Westbrook’s illustrious career includes playing for multiple teams such as Houston, Washington, the Lakers, and Clippers. During the 2022-23 season, he split his time between the two Los Angeles teams and Denver. Last season, he started 58 out of the 64 games he played for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.2 points and 6.7 assists.
___
AP NBA: apnews.com/nba