LOS ANGELES.- Russell Westbrook, MVP of the NBA in 2017 and holder of the record for triple doubles, published a video on his social networks this Wednesday in which he apparently announced his retirement from basketball at the age of 37.
The video, three and a half minutes long, is narrated by the actor Michael B. Jordan and shows the player watching some of the highlights of his 18-year career.
The point guard does not say a word in the video, but he accompanied it with a message in his publication on X.
“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve seen the end. You had to be there. And now it’s over,” wrote the former United States player. Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nine times elected to the All-Star GameWestbrook was without a team after playing his final season with the Sacramento Kingswith which he averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
At his peak, the point guard was one of the most physically powerful players in the league, but in the final stretch of his career he was unable to adapt his game to a competition increasingly focused on outside shooting.
List of achievements
Chosen fourth in the 2008 Draft, the American led the NBA in scoring in the 2014-2015 seasons (28.1 points on average) and 2016-2017 (31.6).
With the Thunder uniform, with whom he played eleven seasons and formed a fearsome couple with Kevin Durant In 2012, Westbrook reached his only NBA Finalslost before him Miami Heat of LeBron James.
In 2017, when he was appointed Most Valuable Player (MVP), surpassed a half-century record of Oscar Robertson of triple doubles in a regular season, finishing 42 games with double figures in points, rebounds and assists.
In 2021 he became the player with the most triple doubles in history, also overtaking Robertson, until he closed his career with a total of 209.
Since leaving Oklahoma City, Westbrook had less brilliant stays with the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggetsbefore signing for one year with Sacramento on a veteran’s minimum contract.
“An absolute legend! What an incredible career!” the All Star point guard congratulated him on X Trae Youngfrom the Wizards.
