Russell Westbrook announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association after 18 seasons on Wednesday afternoon.
Westbrook, 37, played for seven different franchises during his stellar career. He will be remembered for his explosive athleticism as a point guard and his relentless style of play. He played his last season with the Sacramento Kings.
In his 18 seasons, Westbrook was a nine-time All-Star who averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 8.0 assists in his career. He holds the NBA record for most triple-doubles with 209. He surpassed Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, who had held the record since 1974.
Westbrook played 11 of his 18 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that drafted him. In 2012, Westbrook helped lead the Thunder to their first berth in the NBA Finals.
In the 2016-17 season, Westbrook was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. He averaged 31.6 points a game to lead the league in scoring. He also averaged 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists a game, becoming the first player to average a triple double in a season since Robertson did in 1961.
Westbrook was also selected as one of the 75 greatest players in NBA history.
Russell Westbrook was so talented and a joy to watch.