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Russell Westbrook announces retirement after 18 seasons in NBA

Russell Westbrook has retired from the NBA
Russell Westbrook has retired from the NBAČTK / AP / Jessie Alcheh

Future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook announced his NBA retirement on Wednesday, posting a video of his career highlights.

Westbrook played ‌in 18 NBA campaigns between 2008 and 2026, shining the most during his first 11 seasons playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook was ⁠one of the best players in the NBA during the 2010s, winning the 2016-17 MVP with the ​Thunder. He made the NBA Finals once as well as four Western Conference Finals appearances in his time ⁠there.

"Sometimes you don’t even know when you’ve already watched the end," the 37-year-old said. "You had to be ‌there. And now it’s over."

Westbrook also suited up for the Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, LA Clippers, and the Denver Nuggets before signing a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings last season.

He averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals with the Kings but had remained unsigned as a free agent.

As well as being an MVP winner, he was also a nine-time ‌All-Star, nine-time All-NBA member, two-time scoring champion and three-time assist champion.

He became the first player in 60 years, since Oscar Robertson, to average a triple-double for an entire season; he then went on to achieve the same feat four times in five years.

He is one of only three players in NBA history, along with Robertson and Denver star Nikola Jokic, to average a triple-double over a season.

Tolga Akdeniz is a global senior editor for Flashscore, specialising in football, basketball and tennis. Our resident Turkish football expert, he can often be found devouring the Super Lig. Tolga lives in London - you can follow him on X and read his latest features right here.