One of the modern greats in NBA history has announced his retirement. After an illustrious 18-year career, Russell Westbrook has announced his retirement, opting to leave the game of basketball rather than play another season.
Posting to social media on Wednesday afternoon, Westbrook dropped a video narrated by Michael B Jordan. The video walks fans through Westbrook’s career and what made it so special.
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This decision seems like one that’s made for himself. Westbrook is coming off a season where he averaged 15 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds.
Clearly, he still has ability and can play a role for a number of NBA teams. Westbrook is leaving while he’s still healthy and capable, choosing to exit on his own terms rather than being pushed out by the game.
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Russell Westbrook’s notable stats and accoladesJan 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Now with his career in the books, Westbrook is undeniably a first-ballot Hall of Famer and one of the 10 best point guards to ever play the game. Westbrook finishes his career with 27,176 points, 10,351 assists, 9025 rebounds, and 2038 steals.
Those stats over a 18-year career earned Westbrook a plethora of accolades. All-Rookie First Team, 9x NBA All-Star, 2x All-Star MVP, 9x All-NBA, 2017 NBA MVP, a spot on the NBA 75thAnniversary team, and an Olympic Gold Medalist.
Westbrook is one of two players ever to notch over 25,000 points and 10,000 assists. The other player? LeBron James, arguably the greatest player ever to play the game.
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What Westbrook is most known for are his triple-double seasons. Westbrook is the second player ever to average a triple-double for an entire season, the first being Oscar Robertson. Not only did Westbrook average a triple-double in 2017, but he did so for four years in a row.
There’s no denying more accolades are on the way. The Oklahoma City Thunder will likely retire his jersey this upcoming season. A Hall of Fame induction in 2030 is guaranteed, as Westbrook will highlight that class.
Whether it was the competitive spirit or the unbelievable athleticism on display every night, Westbrook made his mark on the league.
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