Russell Westbrook's withdrawal may not be definitive: Patrick Beverley explains why

The retirement of Russell Westbrook from the NBA seemed to put an end to an 18-year career, but Patrick Beverley does not believe it necessarily marks the last chapter of the veteran point guard's journey. The former Sacramento Kings player announced his decision earlier last month, surprising both his followers and some of the players who shared a locker room with him.

Beverley, who played alongside Westbrook on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2022-23 season, spoke about his former teammate's decision on the podcast Out The Mud. Although Westbrook officially left professional basketball after nearly two decades, Beverley keeps the possibility open that the point guard could lace up his shoes and play another season in the NBA.

Patrick Beverley does not consider Westbrook's career over

The former Lakers player was emphatic when discussing Westbrook's future, asserting that he still believes Westbrook has the skill and energy to return to competition. In fact, Beverley suggested that Westbrook could have continued playing for another three or four years.

"This guy should be in the league for another 3 or 4 years, at least," he said. "I'd like to see him with the Heat. 'Brodie' still has a lot of game left. Just yesterday, I saw his younger brother, Ray. He could come back."

The reference to the Miami Heat, therefore, appears as the destination Beverley has in mind for a hypothetical return of Westbrook. However, his words are based on the former player's opinion and do not imply that there is currently a concrete move for the veteran point guard to return to the NBA.

Beverley's statement is particularly striking because Westbrook had decided to end his career after 18 seasons. For the former Lakers teammate, however, the announcement of retirement does not necessarily mean that Westbrook cannot reconsider his decision.

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A career marked by an MVP and triple-doubles

Westbrook leaves the NBA after building one of the most remarkable statistical careers of the last few decades. During his 18 years as a professional, he won an MVP award, was selected nine times for the All-NBA teams, and set the league's all-time record for triple-doubles.

His evolution during this period was considerable. Westbrook went from being one of the league's biggest superstars and a central piece of his teams to gradually taking on less prominent roles. After winning the MVP in 2017 and becoming a regular All-Star, his final years were marked by various team changes and adapting to secondary functions.

Nevertheless, his final numbers reflect the magnitude of his career. Westbrook finished with 27,176 points, 10,351 assists, and 9,025 rebounds in 1,301 regular-season games, in addition to averaging a triple-double in four different seasons.

Beverley and Westbrook: from rivals to teammates

The relationship between Beverley and Westbrook has a particular component, as both engaged in especially intense battles on the court for years before sharing a locker room on the Los Angeles Lakers.

The two finally played together during the 2022-23 season, after being rivals at different stages of their respective careers. This experience as teammates allows us to understand that Beverley knows firsthand Westbrook's abilities and that even after his retirement, he believes Westbrook could still contribute to an NBA team.

His assessment contrasts with the decision made by Westbrook himself, who chose to close his professional chapter after nearly two decades of competition. The point guard decided to leave the league after a journey that went through different phases, from being a superstar and MVP to transforming into a veteran with a reduced role.

Westbrook left the NBA on his own terms

The retirement came after a career in which Westbrook became one of the most recognizable statistical figures in the NBA. The record for triple-doubles and his four seasons averaging this statistic reflect a production capability that defined much of his trajectory.

However, his last chapter was distant from the prominence he had during his best years. Westbrook had to adapt to new roles and different teams as his career progressed, ultimately deciding to leave the NBA.

Now, Patrick Beverley keeps a door open that Westbrook himself seemed to have closed. "Brodie still has a lot of game left," said the former point guard, who even pointed to the Heat as a team he would like to see him with.

For now, Westbrook remains retired after 18 seasons. But if Beverley's prediction were to come true, there could still be a final chapter in a career that has already left a historic statistical mark on the NBA.

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