Marquette, MI – After 18 seasons in the NBA, one of the most explosive and dynamic point guards in basketball history is calling it a career. Russell Westbrook, the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209, announced his retirement Wednesday, bringing an end to a remarkable career. He collected an MVP award, four seasons averaging a triple-double, and two Olympic gold medals.
Westbrook won the 2017 NBA MVP Award after becoming the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double over an entire season. He finished that season averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. He would go on to accomplish the incredible feat three more times, becoming the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double in four different seasons.
From UCLA to Seattle
Westbrook entered the NBA in 2008 after spending two seasons at UCLA. As a sophomore, he averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game. With the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Seattle SuperSonics selected Westbrook. Just six days later, the franchise officially relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Westbrook quickly became the face of the new franchise and spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Oklahoma City. Alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, Westbrook helped establish the Thunder as one of the NBA’s premier teams.
Westbrook’s Journey Across the League
Over his 18-year career, Westbrook suited up for seven different franchises: Oklahoma City, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles-both Lakers and Clippers, Denver, and Sacramento. His final season came in Sacramento, where he continued to prove he still had plenty left in the tank. Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, providing veteran leadership and production in a reduced role. With limited opportunities available in Sacramento and Washington, Westbrook ultimately chose to walk away from the game rather than accept a diminished role.
A Hall of Fame Career, Without an NBA Championship
Westbrook is expected to become eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2029, and his résumé will undoubtedly make him one of the most accomplished players of his generation. The one major accomplishment missing from his career, however, is an NBA championship. Westbrook reached the NBA Finals just once, during the 2011-12 season, when the Thunder advanced to the championship series behind a young core of Westbrook, Durant, and Harden. Oklahoma City fell to the Miami Heat in five games. The Thunder never returned to the Finals during Westbrook’s tenure.
Westbrook and Oklahoma City also fell in the Western Conference Finals in 2011, 2014, and 2016, with the 2016 loss coming after the Thunder held a 3-1 series lead over the Warriors. Despite never winning a championship, Westbrook became the latest NBA MVP to finish his career without a ring, joining a group that includes:
- Joel Embiid — 2022-23 MVP
- James Harden — 2017-18 MVP
- Derrick Rose — 2010-11 MVP
- Steve Nash — 2004-05, 2005-06 MVP
- Allen Iverson — 2000-01 MVP
- Karl Malone — 1996-97, 1998-99 MVP
- Charles Barkley — 1992-93 MVP
A Champion on the International Stage
Although an NBA championship eluded Westbrook, he found plenty of success wearing the red, white, and blue. Westbrook represented Team USA twice, winning gold on both occasions. At the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, Westbrook played in all nine games and averaged 9.1 points per game as the United States captured the gold medal. Two years later, he returned to Team USA for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, playing in all eight games, and averaging 8.5 points per game, as the United States won another gold medal.
A Legacy Beyond the Numbers
While the championship never came, Westbrook leaves behind a legacy that few players in NBA history can match. For nearly two decades, Westbrook played the game with a relentless energy and intensity that made him one of the most recognizable players of his generation. Russell Westbrook’s career is officially over, but his impact on the game will be remembered for generations.
