Russell Westbrook announces his retirement from the NBA after 18 seasons
He leaves without a ring, but with an MVP and a record of triple-doubles in an incredible career
Russell Westbrook has decided to end his career in the NBA. The 37-year-old American point guard announced his retirement this Wednesday after 18 seasons in the best basketball league in the world and having worn the jersey of seven franchises.
The decision comes after Westbrook received offers from the Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards to continue playing next season. According to Shams Charania, both franchises had an excellent relationship with the player and wanted to have him on their rosters, but Westbrook ultimately chose to retire on his own terms.
Westbrook was selected with the 4th pick in the 2008 Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, a franchise that shortly after moved to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder. There, he spent most of his career, playing 11 seasons and becoming one of the great figures in the organization's history.
The 2017 MVP and a historic career
The peak of his time in Oklahoma City came in the 2016-17 season when he was named NBA MVP. Westbrook then had an extraordinary campaign, averaging a triple-double and setting a historic record with 42 triple-doubles in a single season, a mark that still stands today.
His career was precisely defined by his ability to achieve triple-doubles. Westbrook is the player with the most triple-doubles in NBA history, with 209. In 2021, he surpassed Oscar Robertson's mark of 181, which had held since 1974.
Over his 18 seasons, Westbrook leaves behind averages of 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, numbers that reflect the enormous influence he had for nearly two decades.
From Durant and Harden to a career of 27,176 points
Westbrook was also part of one of the most talented teams in the early 2010s. Alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden, he led Oklahoma City to the Western Conference Finals and later to the 2012 NBA Finals, where the Thunder fell to the Miami Heat.
After his long tenure in Oklahoma City, Westbrook played for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Denver Nuggets before facing offers from the Kings and Wizards this past summer.
The point guard also leaves as the fifth all-time NBA assists leader, only behind John Stockton, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, and LeBron James.
In scoring, he ranks 14th historically, with 27,176 points. Among active players, only LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have scored more.
The debate over veterans and the new agreement
Westbrook's retirement comes amid a context marked by the difficulties some veteran players are facing in securing significant contracts under the current NBA collective bargaining rules.
His agent, Jeff Schwartz, founder and CEO of Excel Sports Management, posted a message on Wednesday pointing out this situation: the new salary structure, defined by the so-called first and second 'apron,' is affecting teams' ability to bring in certain veteran profiles.
Schwartz's reflection came after the record-breaking $12 billion sale of the Los Angeles Lakers. The agent questioned how, while franchises reach historic valuations, the rules of the current agreement make it difficult for teams to invest in veteran players.
However, Westbrook has chosen not to wait for a new destination. After 18 seasons, one MVP, 209 triple-doubles, 27,176 points, and a secure place among the great names in NBA history, the competitive 'Russ' is putting an end to his professional career.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Russell Westbrook anuncia su retirada de la NBA tras 18 temporadas
