End of an era for NBA royalty! Russell Westbrook is officially hanging up his jersey. After an incredible 18-year career, the 37-year-old legend is stepping away from the court.
The announcement came in a super emotional video narrated by none other than Michael B. Jordan, which highlighted his most iconic career moments while reflecting on the future.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” the caption reads. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
Westbrook’s journey is the stuff of sports legend. From his roots in Hawthorne to his standout years at UCLA, he was always destined for greatness. He burst onto the NBA scene in 2008 when he was selected fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics—right before they transformed into the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In OKC, he became part of a young, explosive trio alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, even reaching the NBA Finals in 2011. Though the title eluded them, Westbrook’s star power only grew. After Durant’s departure in 2016, Westbrook took center stage, making history as the first player since 1962 to average a triple-double for an entire season. That historic run earned him his lone MVP award during the 2016-2017 season, where he averaged more than 31 points per game.
Following his time in Oklahoma City, Westbrook became a true NBA nomad, bringing his high-octane energy to the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and finally, the Sacramento Kings.
He leaves the game as the undisputed king of triple-doubles, retiring with a staggering 209. What a run!