Russell Westbrook announces retirement after 18 years in the NBA, officially bidding farewell to the league.

On August 13th , 37- year-old Russell Westbrook announced his retirement via social media, ending his 18- year NBA career. In his retirement statement, Westbrook wrote: " Sometimes you don't even know you've reached the end ... and now, it's all over. "

Russell Westbrook entered the NBA in 2008 as the fourth overall pick in the first round . Throughout his career, he played for the Thunder, Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, and Kings. During his 11 seasons with the Thunder, he, along with Kevin Durant and others, led the team to the 2012 NBA Finals.

In the 2016-17 season, Westbrook averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double in a single season, and won the regular season MVP award . He also set a league single-season record with 42 triple-doubles.

Russell Westbrook has been selected to the All-Star team nine times in his career, averaging 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. He has accumulated 27,176 points and 10,000 assists, and holds the NBA record for most triple-doubles with 209. He is also 14th on the NBA's all-time scoring list and 5th on the all-time assists list .

In the 2025-26 season, Westbrook started 58 games for the Kings, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game. Both the Kings and the Wizards offered him contracts during the offseason, but Westbrook ultimately chose to end his career in his own way.

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