Retired former league MVP

Russell Westbrook has officially retired from professional basketball at the age of 37 after a 18-season career in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The former star guard, known for his triple-double prowess, announced his decision to step away from the game following his time with the Sacramento Kings during the 2025–26 season. Over the course of his career, Westbrook played for seven different teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, and finally the Sacramento Kings. Westbrook was selected fourth overall in the 2008 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, who later relocated to Oklahoma City. He spent 11 seasons with the Thunder, forming one of the most dynamic trios in league history alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden. That group reached the 2012 NBA Finals, though they fell to the Miami Heat in a four-game series. Despite the loss, the Thunder’s run marked a high point in Westbrook's early career and helped establish him as one of the league’s premier playmakers. In the 2016–17 season, Westbrook became the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double over an entire regular season. He averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists per game, securing the Most Valuable Player award for the regular season. During that campaign, he recorded 42 triple-doubles, a record that still stands today. His ability to consistently produce triple-doubles made him one of the most unique offensive threats in NBA history. Throughout his career, Westbrook amassed a total of 209 triple-doubles, placing him among the elite in this category. He also finished his career with 27,176 points, ranking him 14th all-time, and 10,351 assists, which put him fifth on the all-time assist list behind John Stockton, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, and LeBron James. On average, he scored 20.9 points, grabbed 6.9 rebounds, and dished out 8.0 assists per game. Despite his individual success, Westbrook never won an NBA championship. However, he did secure Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2012 London Games. Additionally, he earned a silver medal at the 2010 FIBA World Cup in Turkey, where the United States defeated Slovenia 99–77 in the quarterfinals. Westbrook was offered contracts by both the Sacramento Kings and the Washington Wizards for the upcoming 2026–27 season, but he chose to retire instead. His decision comes after a long and storied career that saw him appear in nine All-Star games and earn two All-Star MVP awards. During his retirement announcement, Westbrook reflected on his journey through a video montage highlighting some of his greatest moments. He did not speak publicly during the video, choosing instead to let the visuals tell the story of his career. Westbrook’s legacy includes being one of the most prolific playmakers in NBA history, with his 10,351 assists placing him among the top five in league history. His ability to impact the game offensively and defensively made him a fan favorite throughout his career. As he steps away from the court, his contributions to the sport will continue to be remembered for years to come.