'It's over': NBA great Russell Westbrook retires, ending Hall of Fame career

Jason Anderson, The Sacramento Bee on Aug 12, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Russell Westbrook was an NBA enigma, right up to the very end.

The 37-year-old point guard posted a video to social media Wednesday announcing his retirement. The imagery was striking. The messaging was somewhat cryptic, but that was his way of saying goodbye.

“Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end,” Westbrook tweeted. “You had to be there. And now it’s over.”

Westbrook spent the final year of his Hall of Fame career on a minimum contract with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 15.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.3 steals. There was talk of a return to Sacramento, but after starting last season, Westbrook would have had to be willing to accept a reduced role behind rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr.

Westbrook played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angels Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets and Kings. He played 1,132 games, he averaged 20.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.6 steals.

Westbrook, who will turn 38 in November, was a nine-time All-Star and a nine-time All-NBA selection who was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2017. Westbrook is the NBA’s all-time leader in triple-doubles (209). He ranks fifth in assists (10,351), 14th in points scored (27,176) and 15th in steals (2,038).