Westbrook’s distinguished career
Russell Westbrook, the NBA‘s all-time leader in triple-doubles and the 2017 Kia MVP, has announced his retirement following an 18-season career. Westbrook shared his decision on social media on Wednesday, featuring a video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan. In his post, Westbrook reflected on his journey, stating, “Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
Westbrook was selected as the No. 4 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft out of UCLA by the Seattle SuperSonics, shortly before the team relocated to Oklahoma City. He spent his initial 11 seasons with the Thunder, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the league. His career culminated with a season playing for the Sacramento Kings.
Throughout his career, Westbrook achieved numerous accolades, including being named to the league’s 75th anniversary team. He was a nine-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-Star Game MVP. Westbrook also secured an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.
Statistical dominance and achievements
Westbrook concludes his career with 209 triple-doubles, with his last recorded on March 15. This places him ahead of Nikola Jokic, who had 198 going into this season. He also holds the NBA record for the most triple-doubles in a single season, achieving 42 during the 2016-17 season, the same year he earned his sole MVP award.
His statistical impact was consistent, as he averaged double figures in both points and assists in five of six seasons, starting from the 2015-16 season. Westbrook led the NBA in assists three times and was a two-time scoring champion. His ability to contribute across multiple statistical categories redefined the role of a point guard in the league.
Westbrook is also notable for being only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double across an entire season, a feat he accomplished four times. This included three consecutive seasons from 2016-17 through 2018-19 with the Thunder, and again in the 2020-21 season with the Washington Wizards. His career averages stand at 20.9 points, 8.0 assists, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.
Journey across multiple teams
After his extensive tenure with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Westbrook played for several other franchises. These included the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers. During the 2022-23 season, he split his time between the Los Angeles teams and Denver, before concluding his career with the Sacramento Kings.
In his final season with the Sacramento Kings, Westbrook started in 58 of the 64 games he played. He averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 assists for the team. His draft class from 2008 included notable names such as Derrick Rose and Kevin Love, yet Westbrook’s career achievements are considered to be distinct among his peers.
His selection to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, which recognized the 75 greatest players in league history, further highlights his standing. At the time of his selection, Westbrook was one of only 11 active players included on this prestigious list.
Source: nba.com
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
