Russell Westbrook, former NBA MVP and 9-time All-Star, announces retirement after 18 seasons - NBA.com

Russell Westbrook, the 2017 Kia NBA MVP and nine-time All-Star, announced his retirement on August 12, 2026, ending an 18-season career during which he was named to the NBA's 75th anniversary team.
He revealed the decision via a social media video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan, writing, "Sometimes you don't even know when you've already watched the end. You had to be there. And now it's over."
Westbrook retires as the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209, ranks fifth all-time in assists and 14th in points, and holds the single-season record of 42 triple-doubles set during his 2016-17 MVP campaign.
Drafted No. 4 overall out of UCLA in 2008 by the Seattle SuperSonics, he played his first 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder after the franchise relocated, and later suited up for Houston, Washington, the Lakers, Clippers, Denver and Sacramento.
The two-time scoring champion and two-time All-Star Game MVP led the league in assists three times and won an Olympic gold medal at the 2012 London Games.
In his final season with the Kings, Westbrook started 58 of 64 games and averaged 15.2 points and 6.7 assists, recording his last triple-double on March 15.