Russell Westbrook, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) all-time leader in triple-doubles, has announced his retirement after an illustrious 18-season career.
The 37-year-old guard made his retirement official on Thursday through a social media video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, declaring that it’s all over.
ESPN reports that despite receiving offers from the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards during the offseason, Westbrook made the personal decision to hang up his sneakers.
Drafted fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008, Westbrook’s journey in the NBA spanned 18 seasons and seven teams, including a significant stint with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During his 11 seasons in Oklahoma City, Westbrook, alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, led the team to the Western Conference championship in 2012.
Throughout his career, Westbrook amassed an incredible 209 triple-doubles, a record that still stands as the most in league history.
In 2021, he surpassed Oscar Robertson’s previous record of 181 career triple-doubles, adding 27 more before calling it quits.
The 2016-17 season saw Westbrook at his peak, notching 42 triple-doubles to set a single-season record and clinching the most valuable player (MVP) award.
Westbrook’s impact on the game is further evidenced by his fifth-place ranking in NBA career assists and his 27,176 points, good for 14th all-time. Among active players, only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have scored more.
Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager (GM) Sam Presti paid tribute to Westbrook’s legacy, stating that Westbrook is the ultimate competitor. His unwavering belief and fearless courage have been instrumental in shaping the franchise’s foundation since day one in 2008, consistently inspiring and energizing the community year after year.