NBA legend Russell Westbrook has announced his retirement bringing one of the most statistically remarkable and polarizing careers in league history to an end.
The 37-year-old guard announced his retirement Wednesday on social media, sharing a video about his career narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan. This announcement comes after Westbrook entered the off season as a free agent. Reports from ESPN tell that the veteran had opportunities with the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards but ultimately decided to retire on his own terms. He spent 11 seasons in Oklahoma City and formed a great partnership with Kevin Durant and James Harden. The trio helped lead the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals where they lost to the Miami Heat.
Westbrook leaves as the NBA’s all-time triple-double leader with 209. He is the only player to average a triple-double in four different seasons. In 2016-17, after Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City, he put up 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, won MVP, and dropped a record 42 triple-doubles in a single year. That season was one of the best performances the league has ever seen. A nine-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA selection, Westbrook also claimed two scoring titles, three assists titles, two All-Star Game MVPs, and a place on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. He finished 14th on the all-time scoring list (27,176 points) and fifth in assists (10,351). Only LeBron James shares the 25,000-point and 10,000-assist club with him.
Russell Westbrook announces retirement in Emotional Video Narrated by Michael B. Jordan
Russell Westbrook who made himself popular while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder across 11 seasons announced his retirement from the league after 18 years with the help of Michael B. Jordan video. His incredible career began with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2008 and ended last season with the Sacramento Kings. The journey after Oklahoma City had a bit of controversy but he represented Houston, Washington, the Lakers, the Clippers, Denver, then Sacramento.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook captioned the video narrated by the Sinners actor that revisited his storied career. “You had to be there. And now it’s over. The greatest thing he left behind couldn’t fit inside a museum,” referring to Westbrook’s legacy despite never earning a championship ring. “It never had to be said.’
This video has gone viral on social media platform Twitter and has already got more than 62k retweets and plenty of likes. Westbrook never won a championship. But his contribution in the last 15 years of the NBA makes him one of the all-time great. He also forced the league to deal with him on his terms. Even in his final season with the Kings he started most games and still played with great intensity.