Russell Westbrook don officially announce say im basketball career don end. Di 37-year-old drop di news on social media on Wednesday, wit a video wey actor Michael B. Jordan narrate. Inside di post, e write: ‘Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.’
Westbrook play 18 NBA seasons wit seven different teams. E bin get offers dis offseason from Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, but im choose to leave di game on im own terms. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, di decision end one of di most statistically robust careers for league history.
Na from UCLA e come, before di Seattle SuperSonics pick am as number four for 2008 NBA draft. But e never play any game for Seattle, because di franchise move go Oklahoma City dat same summer. E quickly become di pillar of what soon turn perennial contender.
Westbrook spend 11 seasons wit di Thunder, team up wit Kevin Durant and James Harden to lead di team go Western Conference title for 2012, before dem lose to Miami Heat for NBA Finals. At just 23 years old, e score 43 points for Game 4 of dat series. E still remain di Thunder career leader for scoring, assists, rebounds and steals.
Dat famed Thunder team never make am back to di mountaintop. Harden dem trade before 2012-13 season. Westbrook get meniscus tear for first round of 2013 playoffs. Durant get foot fracture wey end dia 2015 run. For 2016, OKC lose dramatic seven-game series to di 73-win Golden State Warriors, and Durant follow go Warriors dat summer.
But Westbrook remain, sign extension at a time wen di organization feel most vulnerable. E keep di Thunder relevant for im midprime seasons and help lure Paul George and Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City. During di 2016-17 season, e become di first player since Oscar Robertson for 1962 to average triple-double for full season, wit 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, wey earn am MVP award. E set NBA-record 42 triple-doubles dat season.
Westbrook, a nine-time All-Star, bin finish wit career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game. E hold NBA record for most career triple-doubles wit 209, wey surpass Oscar Robertson long-standing mark of 181 for 2021. Dat record don stand since 1974.
Di Thunder trade George to LA Clippers and Westbrook to Houston Rockets before 2019-20 season, wey replenish dia asset base and rebuild di core of what become 2025 NBA champions. Thunder general manager Sam Presti talk: ‘Russell Westbrook is di ultimate competitor. His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness help establish di foundation of our organization from day one for 2008 and e elevate di confidence and inspire our community for every year thereafter.’
From Oklahoma City, Westbrook journey take am go Rockets, Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Kings for im final seven seasons. E maintain im durability and production even for im late 30s. For im final season, e start 58 games for Kings and average 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds. E also become career leader for rebounds from point guard position and join LeBron James as di only two players for league history wit 25,000 points and 10,000 assists.
Westbrook retire as di fifth for NBA history for career assists, behind John Stockton, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and James. E be 14th for di NBA career scoring list wit 27,176 points. Di only three active players ahead of am na James, Durant and Harden. Di Kings bin don dey discuss wit am about bringing am back for recent weeks, but e go be reduced role as di organization turn dia direction over to rookie point guard Darius Acuff.
Westbrook agent, Excel Sports Management founder and CEO Jeff Schwartz, release statement earlier Wednesday about issues for veteran players to land deals for di first- and second-aprons era of di collective bargaining agreement: ‘Incredible, di Lakers sell for $12 billion, yet teams won’t spend on older vets because of current CBA rules. Thank you, Union.’
For financial side, Westbrook earn almost $350 million from NBA teams during im career, according to Spotrac. Im biggest contract na di five-year, $205 million deal e sign wit Thunder for 2017, wey na di largest total value contract for league history at dat time. Plus endorsement deal wit Jordan Brand wey include im ‘Why Not?’ signature shoe and apparel line, im net worth na estimated $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
