In an Emotional Farewell Video Narrated by Michael B. Jordan, Russell Westbrook Looks Back on the Moments, Milestones and Style That Defined His NBA Career
Russell Westbrook is walking away from the NBA the same way he played the game — on his own terms.
The 37-year-old former MVP announced his retirement Wednesday after 18 seasons, sharing an emotional farewell video narrated by actor Michael B. Jordan that takes viewers through a museum-like tribute to his career.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook wrote alongside the video. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”
The 3½-minute video revisits some of the moments and achievements that defined Westbrook’s career, including his 2017 MVP trophy and an autographed jersey from the 2012 London Olympics, where he helped Team USA win gold. Jordan narrates as Westbrook silently moves through the exhibit, reflecting on a career built around relentless energy, competitiveness and a style of play entirely his own.
Jordan later celebrated Westbrook in the comments, thanking him for what he gave to basketball.
Westbrook Leaves Behind a Record-Breaking Legacy
Westbrook retires as the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles with 209, including a league-record 42 during his 2016-17 MVP season. That year, he averaged 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1961-62 to average a triple-double for an entire season.
And he did not stop there. Westbrook ultimately averaged a triple-double in four different seasons.
A nine-time NBA All-Star and member of the league’s 75th Anniversary Team, Westbrook finishes his career fifth in NBA history in assists with 10,351 and 14th in scoring with 27,176 points. He also won two scoring titles, led the league in assists three times and earned back-to-back NBA All-Star Game MVP awards in 2015 and 2016.
Across 1,301 regular-season games, Westbrook averaged 20.9 points, 8.0 assists and 6.9 rebounds.
Oklahoma City Is Where the Legend Took Shape
Westbrook entered the NBA as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Seattle SuperSonics, which relocated to Oklahoma City before his rookie season.
He spent his first 11 seasons with the Thunder, becoming the emotional engine of a franchise that emerged as one of the NBA’s most exciting teams alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden.
The trio helped Oklahoma City reach the 2012 NBA Finals before falling to LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.
Westbrook’s connection to Oklahoma City only grew after Durant left for Golden State in 2016. The following season, Westbrook delivered his historic MVP campaign, carrying the Thunder back to the playoffs while averaging a triple-double.
“Russell Westbrook is the ultimate competitor,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. “His internal belief and unbridled fearlessness helped establish the foundation of our organization from day one in 2008 and he elevated the confidence and inspired our community in every year thereafter.”
After Oklahoma City, Westbrook played for Houston, Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings. He spent his final season in Sacramento, averaging 15.2 points in 64 games.
His career was not always smooth, particularly during his later stops as teams tried to figure out how to fit his aggressive, ball-dominant style into changing offenses. But Westbrook never stopped playing with the speed, emotion and fearlessness that made him one of the defining guards of his generation.
And when the final chapter arrived, he did not need a long speech.
The numbers, highlights and 18 years of basketball said enough.
