Former NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook announced his retirement after 18 seasons in the league. Westbrook, 37, made the announcement on the social media platform X.
Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end. And now it's over.
Westbrook shared a video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan celebrating highlights from his career. A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook retires with career averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8 assists per game.
Westbrook is the NBA's all-time leader in regular-season triple-doubles.
Westbrook surpassed Oscar Robertson's record of 181 triple-doubles in 2021. He became the first player since Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double throughout an entire season, achieving the feat in 2016-17. Westbrook averaged a triple-double in four seasons during his career and recorded 42 triple-doubles during his 2016-17 MVP season.
Westbrook's scoring average during his 2016-17 MVP season, when he also averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists.
Westbrook won his only MVP award in the 2016-17 season. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, forming a star trio with Kevin Durant and James Harden. The Thunder won the Western Conference title in 2012 before losing to the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. Westbrook remains the Thunder's all-time leader in points, assists, rebounds and steals.
Following the 2018-19 season, Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets. He subsequently played for the Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings, spending no more than two seasons with any team after leaving Oklahoma City. He ended his career with the Sacramento Kings in the 2025-26 campaign.
Westbrook recorded 27,176 points and 10,351 assists during his career, placing him among the NBA's all-time leaders in both categories. He won an Olympic gold medal with the US in 2012. However, he never won an NBA championship title.
